STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2374

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2038

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2038 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, to address issues that relate to farming sufficiency in conservation, water and energy management, soil science, and food safety.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agricultural and Human Resources and one individual.

     Your Committees find that there are two major areas of concern to the agricultural sector and the public.  The first concern is organic agriculture and soil health.  The second concern is good agricultural practices and food safety.  The additional funds provided by this measure will address both areas of concern by supporting research to address organic pest management needs, training in safe and effective organic farming techniques, pesticide safety training, and the food safety coaching program.  Improving organic agriculture and food safety practices will greatly benefit the State's agricultural industry and bolster consumer confidence in the quality and safety of agricultural products.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an appropriation amount of $730,000 for the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to address issues that relate to farming sufficiency in conservation, water and energy management, soil science, and food safety.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2038, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2038, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water and Land,

____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair