Bill Text: HI HB2596 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Macadamia Nut Trees; Macadamia Felted Coccid; Agriculture; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-03-22 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. [HB2596 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2596-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2596 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the macadamia felted coccid.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that macadamia nuts are among the five top-grossing agricultural commodities grown in Hawaii. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Hawaii harvested an estimated forty-four million pounds in macadamia nut crop during the 2012-2013 crop year. The estimated farm value of macadamia nuts for that same year was $35,200,000.
In March 2005, the macadamia felted coccid, Eriococcus ironsidei, was discovered on macadamia nut trees in South Kona. Originally from Australia, this insect can cause severe damage to macadamia nut trees when uncontrolled. Initially, insecticidal oils researched and recommended by the University of Hawaii's college of tropical agriculture and human resources were effective at controlling the spread of these insects. After successful suppression of the original infestation in 2005, however, infestations of macadamia felted coccid have recently been found in the Pahala area. Although insecticidal oil treatment has been effective in eradicating the insect from young sapling trees in the Pahala area, this treatment has proven ineffective on older macadamia nut trees because the trees are too large to apply adequate coverage of the insecticidal oil. Because insecticidal oil is proving to be ineffective, farmers must develop new methods to control the infestation of macadamia felted coccid, which could devastate the macadamia nut industry in Hawaii.
According to the department of agriculture, to develop new methods to control the macadamia felted coccid, researchers must:
(1) Investigate the role of tree canopy modification and understory plants to encourage the presence of natural enemies of the macadamia felted coccid;
(2) Analyze the potential of alternative pesticides;
(3) Determine the impact of macadamia felted coccid on plant health;
(4) Determine action thresholds for macadamia felted coccid management;
(5) Determine the phenology of macadamia felted coccid in the field; and
(6) Identify and test biological control agents in Australia that could be introduced in Hawaii to control the macadamia felted coccid.
The research provided by the department of agriculture may lead to better prevention of contamination of macadamia nuts by macadamia felted coccids. Similarly, the federal Food Safety Modernization Act aims to ensure the safety of United States food supply by focusing on prevention of contamination instead of response to contamination. The legislature supports the federal Food Safety Modernization Act's intent to assist farmers and processors with compliance and further supports possible exemptions, especially to prevent contamination of macadamia nuts by macadamia felted coccids.
The legislature anticipates that the macadamia felted coccid will spread to other regions and counties of Hawaii if uncontrolled and could devastate the macadamia nut industry.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys for research to develop new methods of preventing and treating macadamia felted coccid infestations.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the department of agriculture, in cooperation with the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, to research and develop methods for the prevention and treatment of macadamia felted coccid.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the following:
(1) The University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to research and develop methods for the prevention and treatment of macadamia felted coccid, including new chemical research on cultivating macadamia nuts, in cooperation with the department of agriculture; and
(2) Hiring one University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources extension agent (1.0 FTE) at the college of tropical agriculture and human resources to work on macadamia nut cultivation, post-harvest handling, and processing concerns, consistent with the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association research priority goals.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. The appropriations made pursuant to sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriations are made; provided that all moneys from the appropriations unencumbered as of June 30, 2021, shall lapse as of that date.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Macadamia Nut Trees; Macadamia Felted Coccid; Agriculture; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates moneys to DOA to research and develop methods for the prevention and treatment of macadamia felted coccid.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
