STAND. COM. REP. NO.  18-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1931

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1931 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to support research to protect Hawaii's macadamia nut crops from macadamia felted coccid infestations.

 

     Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys for the Department of Agriculture to research and develop methods for the prevention and treatment of macadamia felted coccid infestation in cooperation with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

 

     The University of Hawaii, Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Royal Hawaiian Orchards, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and six individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture submitted written comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that this appropriation would help develop new methods to control the infestation of macadamia nut felted coccid that could devastate the macadamia nut industry in Hawaii.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1931 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair