STAND. COM. REP. NO.  588-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2596

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2596 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MACADAMIA FELTED COCCID,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect macadamia nuts, among the five top-grossing agricultural commodities grown in the State, from the threat of the macadamia felted coccid that could devastate the macadamia nut industry by appropriating funds for:

(1)  The Department of Agriculture (DOA), in cooperation with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), to research and develop methods for the prevention and treatment of macadamia felted coccid;

(2)  CTAHR, in cooperation with DOA, to research and develop methods for the prevention and treatment of macadamia felted coccid, including new chemical research on cultivating macadamia nuts; and

(3)  Hiring an extension agent at CTAHR to work on macadamia nut cultivation, post-harvest handling, and processing concerns, consistent with the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association research priority goals.

The Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii System, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association, Royal Hawaiian Orchards, ILWU Local 142, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee notes that at this point in the legislative process, the appropriation for the research and hiring of an extension agent to address the threat of the macadamia felted coccid is unspecified and further discussion is necessary to determine a recommended amount.

     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 H.B. No. 2596 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair