STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1030-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2723

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2723, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the GoFarm Hawaii program and require GoFarm Hawaii to provide the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture with an annual report of the program's goals and a semi-annual report outlining program outputs and outcomes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hoola Farms, North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership, The Kohala Center, Ulupono Initiative, Kahana Foundation, Maui Farmers Union United, Counter Culture Organic Farm, Art Farm 808, Hawaii State Future Farmers of America, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, Waimanalo Market Co-op, Hawaii Farm to School Hui, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Public Health Institute, EcoTipping Points Project, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farmers Union United.

Your Committee finds that GoFarm Hawaii is the only statewide program that offers farmers comprehensive training for farm maintenance, business planning, and the small-scale production of commercial crops. Your Committee also finds the supply of locally grown produce is insufficient to meet demand, and the future of the State's farming industry, food supply, and agriculture is reliant upon increasing and diversifying the number of new farmers in the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language based on S.B. No. 2709, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2020, to establish a Beginning Farmer Training Program and appropriate funds for the program;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2723, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2723, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Lower & Higher Education.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair