REPORT TITLE:
Swine


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes a voluntary porcine respiratory and reproductive
syndrome (PRRS) certification program, including developing
voluntary PRRS herd certification standards.  Appropriates funds.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2801
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
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:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the swine industry is
 
 2 a significant contributor to diversified agriculture in Hawaii,
 
 3 generating $6,000,000 in farm gate value alone.  Swine production
 
 4 is also an integral part of Hawaii's culture and economy, and is
 
 5 essential for the continued functioning of activities ranging
 
 6 from family luaus to Chinatown markets.
 
 7      However, the legislature finds that Hawaii's swine industry
 
 8 is threatened by porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome
 
 9 (PRRS), which can have a devastating impact on swine,
 
10 particularly in herds that are free of the disease and have not
 
11 built up resistance to this disease.  PRRS has been shown in
 
12 Hawaii to cause losses of approximately six months production and
 
13 income, and increase ongoing production costs after the disease
 
14 is under control.  Moreover, this disease has made it impossible
 
15 for some farmers to continue in business.
 
16      The purpose of this Act is to coordinate a survey and
 
17 sampling of swine farms in the State to determine the incidence
 
18 of PRRS.
 
19      SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of agriculture, animal
 
20 industry division, shall conduct a survey and sampling of swine
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 farms in the State to determine the incidence of PRRS.  The
 
 2 survey results shall be confidential; provided that the results
 
 3 shall be available to the producer on whose farm the survey is
 
 4 conducted and to the cooperative extension service for
 
 5 statistical analysis.
 
 6      (b)  The department of agriculture shall establish
 
 7 procedures to certify that swine herds are negative for PRRS and
 
 8 maintain a list of these herds.
 
 9      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
10 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $62,300 or so much
 
11 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001 to conduct
 
12 a survey and sampling of swine farms in the State to determine
 
13 the incidence of PRRS.
 
14      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
15 agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
 
16      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.
 
17 
 
18                       INTRODUCED BY:  ___________________________