STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2013

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2293

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2293 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to fund the livestock revitalization program for an additional year.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Farmers Union United; and six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the livestock industry's greatest challenge is the rising cost of feed for livestock production.  Many Hawaii producers have gone out of business primarily due to the rising cost of feed, resulting in increased food costs for Hawaii residents, and many remaining livestock producers are threatened with closure due to the rising cost of feed.  The livestock revitalization program reimburses qualified livestock producers for a percentage of their feed costs.  Your Committee concludes that subsidizing feed costs is necessary to encourage local food production, decrease food costs, and increase the State's food sustainability.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2293 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair