HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

663

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 in the past the State of Hawaii was self-sufficient in providing its residents with beef, dairy, pork, and poultry products.  Today, the State is dependent on importing virtually all of its live stock product needs from the mainland.  By way of example, today there are only two surviving dairies left in the entire State and, as of 2007, only five commercial egg farms in the entire State.

Pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 170 and Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 192, regular session of 2007, the department of agriculture and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, college of tropical agriculture and human resources, collaborated in the establishment of a task force to discuss and develop long-term solutions to protect the livestock industry in the State.  One of the principal concerns raised by the livestock industry during the task force discussion was the high cost of purchasing and transporting livestock feed from the mainland.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the college of tropical agriculture and human resources to determine the feasibility of developing an animal feed industry in the State to assist the cattle, pork, dairy, and poultry industries.

SECTION 2.  The college of tropical agriculture and human resources is directed to study the feasibility of developing an animal feed industry in the State to assist the cattle, dairy, pork, and poultry industries by providing another source for animal feed as an alternative to purchasing the feed on the mainland and transporting it to Hawaii.  At minimum, the study shall include the following:

     (1)  The approximate existing and potential future demand for animal feed in the State;

     (2)  The present and estimated future cost of animal feed imported into the State, including but not limited to the cost of the feed, transportation costs, and inventorying costs;

     (3)  The types of crops that would be suitable for growing animal feed in the State;

     (4)  The estimated cost of producing animal feed crops in the State to meet the existing and future demand for animal feed in the State;

     (4)  The estimated cost of producing animal feed crops in the State to meet the existing and future demand for animal feed in the State;

     (5)  The estimated total acreage that would be required to produce the existing and potential future demand for animal feed in the State;

     (6)  Suitable and available lands, including but not limited to public lands, in the State for the growing of animal feed crops;

     (7)  Potential sources of capital that may be available to assist in the private development of an animal feed industry in the State; and

     (8)  Any other information that is relevant to the determination as to the feasibility of the development of an animal feed industry in the State.

     SECTION 3.  The college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall submit the findings of its study, including any recommended legislation, to the legislature twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2010.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Agriculture; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

 

Description:

Directs UH college of tropical a and human resources to undertake study of the feasibility of developing an animal feed industry in the State.

 

 

 

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