STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1185

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1570

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1570, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to assist the livestock industry to stabilize its operations by:

 

(1)  Making qualified producers of goat milk eligible for the Livestock Revitalization Program, which provides reimbursements for a percentage of feed expenses; and

 

(2)  Appropriating funds to reimburse qualified beef, cattle, dairy, hog, poultry, and goat farms under the Livestock Revitalization Program and for administrative costs of the program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Russell S. Kokubun, Chairperson, Board of Agriculture; Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, President, Mikilua Poultry Farm, Inc.; Jeffrey Peterson, Manager, Land O Lakes Purina Feeds; Roy Kaneshiro, Owner, K. K. Poultry Farm, Inc.; Sharon Peterson Cheape, Vice President, Hawaii Egg Producers Cooperative and Petersons' Upland Farm; and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that feed is very costly for livestock producers in Hawaii.  Several local dairies and egg farms have already gone out of business, primarily due to the rising cost of feed for livestock animals and the resulting increase in production costs.

 

     With additional financial support, fewer livestock production companies will go out of business, the livestock industry will be able to grow its operations, and the State will continue to reduce its dependence on imported foods.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1570, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair