Bill Text: HI SB3197 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2022-05-06 - Enrolled to Governor. [SB3197 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB3197-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3197 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii is located approximately 2,506 miles from the continental United States. About eighty-five to ninety per cent of Hawaii's food is imported, which makes Hawaii particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and global events that disrupt shipping and other modes of transporting food. Increasing the availability of locally produced food would offer greater food security for the State.
The legislature further finds that the development of a whole farm system approach to agriculture in Hawaii that pays close attention to soil health, specifically increasing mineral availability and improving soil structure, water-holding capacity, crop health, and food nutrition levels, will lower water usage through deployment of green manure, compost, and cover crops; reduce crop loss from pest damage; and decrease weed pressure. This whole farm system approach to agriculture can improve food security and benefit the local economy by reducing production costs through the promotion of locally sourced inputs and the manufacturing thereof. Teaching a new generation of farmers to use this whole farm system approach will create an alternative method of farming that appeals to many young farmers across the State. Currently, there is a shortage of qualified teachers for these farm methods. Farmer apprentice mentoring aims to fulfill this need by bringing the students to the farm and providing qualified farm mentors with funding for training efforts.
The purpose of this Act is to improve food security and self-sufficiency in the State by encouraging the development and implementation of a whole farm system approach to agriculture in Hawaii.
SECTION 2. Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§141- Farmer apprentice mentoring program. (a) There is established in the department of agriculture a farmer apprentice mentoring program that shall teach farmers about methods to improve soil health by using whole farm systems that:
(1) Practice
sustainable agriculture as defined by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990, Public Law 101-624, title XVI, subtitle A, section 1603
(codified as 7 United States Code section 3103); and
(2) Recycle locally
available organic, diverse plant and animal agricultural nutrients, enhanced by
fermentation and other ecological processes such as Korean natural farming as
defined by the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human
resources.
(b) The chairperson of the board of agriculture shall establish the curriculum for the farmer apprentice mentoring program."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the farmer apprentice mentoring program to provide mentoring on a whole farm system approach to agriculture.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Farmer Apprentice Mentoring Program; Whole Farm System; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes a Farmer Apprentice Mentoring Program to teach and train farmers to utilize a whole farm system approach to agriculture. Makes an appropriation to the Department of Agriculture to provide mentoring on a whole farm system approach to agriculture.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
