STAND. COM. REP. NO.  18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1007

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1007 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish a Korean Natural Farming Pilot Program (Pilot Program) within the Department of Agriculture to explore the feasibility of using Korean natural farming techniques to combat various agricultural pests in Hawaii;

     (2)  Authorize the use of funds from the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund for the purpose of the Pilot Program; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds from the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund to establish one full-time Korean natural farming coordinator position to implement the Pilot Program.

Ho‘omana Pono, LLC.; Hawaii Farmers Union United; and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Taxation and a concerned individual provided comments.

     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. 1007 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,

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair