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February 2007
E-News from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture
February 6, 2007
Message from the Chairperson:
Each legislative year is important; however, this year there are several major administration bills that will provide the department with the authority and means to further strengthen agriculture in Hawaii. As members of the agricultural industry, we would like to enlist your assistance in supporting the following proposed bills:
HB1217 / SB 1303 Relating to Incentives for Important Agricultural Lands (IAL)
Establishes a comprehensive and integrated framework of incentives intended to promote investment in, and the long-term use and protection of, designated IAL for agricultural use.
HB1218 / SB1304 Relating to Animal Diseases
Creates a more efficient and rapid response to highly contagious animal diseases such as: Avian influenza, Foot and Mouth Disease, Exotic Newcastle’s Disease, Classical Swine Fever, Rift Valley Fever, Nipah Virus, and other diseases that are not established in Hawaii.
HB1219 / SB1305 Relating to Department of Agriculture Loans
Increases the amount of money for agricultural and aquacultural loans that the Chairperson may approve from $25,000 to $75,000. This will allow faster approval of agricultural loans under $75,000 and allowing the Board of Agriculture to focus attention on loans of larger amounts.
HB1220 / SB1306 Relating to Agricultural Marketing
Establishes a special fund to collect revenues from the Hawaii Seals of Quality program to facilitate the program to become revenue-neutral and self-sufficient.
HB1221 / SB1307 Relating to Agriculture
Requests $3.3 million to provide financial support through a reimbursement program for dairy and egg farmers in order to reduce the harmful impact of the high cost of feed. A reimbursement formula of up to 50 percent of an eligible dairy or egg farm’s feed costs is being proposed. The formula was established as a means to assist the few remaining dairy and poultry farmers to sustain their operations and to contribute to Hawaii’s food security by providing a fresh, safe and reliable source of essential food products.
HB1222 / SB1308 Relating to Loans for Agricultural and Aquacultural Loans
Makes the aquacultural loan program on par with the agricultural loan program and combines the revolving and reserve funds to allow flexibility in funding.
HB1223 / SB1309 Relating to Important Agricultural Lands
Amends chapter 205, HRS, to clarify restrictions on permissible uses of IAL, including limitations on subdivisions, placement and number of farm dwellings and allows the addition of biofuels processing facilities as a permissible use on agricultural lands and IAL. This will maximize the potential for viable uses of IAL.
HB1224 / SB1310 Relating to Agricultural Land Use
Provides direction to the counties on how to protect agricultural lands from being used as “fake farms” or luxury residential developments.
Your active support for these bills is immensely important and appreciated. If you would like to be notified when hearing are being held or if you have any questions on any proposed legislation, please feel free to contact department Deputy Duane Okamoto at duane.okamoto@hawaii.gov or me at sandra.kunimoto@hawaii.gov
Sincerely,
Sandra Lee Kunimoto
Chairperson, Board of Agriculture
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NRC HOLDS MEETING ON PROPOSED IRRADIATOR FOR OAHU
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a public meeting in Honolulu on February 1st to accept public comment on its draft environmental assessment and topical report on the irradiator proposed by Pa`ina Hawaii, LLC. An Oahu irradiator would provide a quarantine treatment for many crops and increase export opportunities for many farmers. It will also provide a treatment option for produce and flowers imported to Hawaii that may be carrying plant pests.
The draft environmental assessment that was conducted by the NRC concluded that Pa`ina’s proposed irradiator did not pose any significant risk to the environment or public safety. A supplemental topical report also looked at the risk of tsunami, earthquakes and airline accidents and also concluded that the irradiator posed no significant risk.
Besides individual farmers, supporting testimony was heard from those representing the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Agricultural Research Center and HDOA. There were also individuals from various backgrounds and interests that also supported the irradiator as well as those who oppose its construction.
The draft EA and topical report is available on the NRC website at: http://www.nrc.gov/materials/paina.pdf
The NRC will continue to be accepted until February 8, 2007.
Refer to: Docket No. 030-36974
By mail: Chief, Rules Review and
Directives Branch, Mail Stop T6-D59, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001
By fax: Attn: Matthew Blevins, (301) 415-5397
By e-mail: NRCREP@nrc.gov
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BOARD GIVES PRELIMINARY APPROVAL FOR MILK PRICE INCREASE FOR BIG ISLAND FARMERS
The Hawaii Board of Agriculture granted preliminary approval to raise the minimum price of Class I milk paid to the farmers in the Hawaii (Big Island) milkshed at its December 2006 meeting. The amendment that proposes to increase the minimum price by $3 per hundredweight of raw milk was subsequently unanimously approved by the Small Business Regulatory Review Board. The request has been sent to the Governor’s office for approval to conduct public hearings on the Big Island. HDOA fast tracked the proposed increase due to the immediate needs of Big Island dairies.
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NEW MANAGER OF MARKET DEVELOPMENT BRANCH
Todd Low is the new Market Development Branch manager. Low began his new duties on December 1, 2006, and replaces former MDB manager Calvin Lee who retired. Low has previous experience in marketing and project management in the hospitality and finance industries. Most recently, he was the product development manager for American Savings Bank. He also worked with the Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau in interactive marketing and with special projects with Prince Resorts.
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HAWAIISEALS OF QUALITY PARTNERS WITH STARWOOD HOTELS
The Hawaii Seal of Quality (SOQ) program partnered with Starwood Hotels to participate in this year’s Pacific Rim Incentive Meeting Exchange (PRIME) event on November 30, 2006, at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel. Staff members from ADD assisted 19 SOQ vendors who participated in this event, 13 of which were from the neighbor islands. SOQ participants were able to meet with meeting, convention, and conference planners from North America, Asia/ Pacific region, as well as Australia and showcase their premium, Hawaii-made products. In return, PRIME participants got a chance to mingle and personally meet some Hawaii farmers & processors, as well as talk to them directly about their farms and products.
Also featured by the Sheraton staff, was a menu specifically created to sample as many of our SOQ products as possible.
For information on the Hawaii Seal of Quality program, visit our website at: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/add_SOQ.htm
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MAUI RISK ASSESSEMENT
The Plant Quarantine Branch continues its series of risk assessments (RA) across the state. During the week of January 22 to 26, plant quarantine inspectors conducted an RA on domestic mail and freight transported to Maui by DHL Express, Lynden Air Freight, Five Star Freight and Federal Express. The Maui detector dog team took part by monitoring unmarked parcels for agricultural products as well as inter-island freight originating from foreign ports. In this RA, 122 pests were intercepted and submitted for identification. Among the pests intercepted that are not known to occur in Hawaii were scales on limes, peel miners on oranges and aphids on romaine lettuce. All infested items were treated and destroyed. Suspect disease symptoms were also found on lantana plants, cut Italian ruscus and cut eucalyptus.
RAs are concentrated inspections held during a specific period of time. The date collected is used to help inspectors target high risk pathways and commodities during routine inspection.
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Interceptions by Plant Quarantine Inspectors
(The following is a sampling of recent interceptions by Plant Quarantine Inspectors)
November 22 – Maui inspectors rejected a carton (25 lbs.) of fava beans, which were infested with a fungal disease that is not known to occur in Hawaii. The air freight shipment originated from California and was treated and destroyed.
November 29 – 56 cartons of green bell pepper consigned to an Oahu produce distributor were treated and destroyed due to infestation of a psyllid not known to be established in Hawaii. The shipment arrived via container ship and was included in a shipment of mixed produce from California.
November 30 – Maui inspectors rejected 20 cartons (120 lbs.) of strawberries which were heavily infested with aphids. The shipment from California was treated and destroyed.
December 11 – Oahu inspectors treated and destroyed two shipments of red bell peppers destined for Honolulu food stores due to infestation of a potato psyllid not known to be established in Hawaii. A 45 lb. shipment and a 15 lb. shipment arrived from Los Angeles on two different commercial aircraft. In addition, from December 7 to 13, Maui inspectors treated and destroyed six shipments of red bell pepper, totaling 190 lbs. due to infestation of psyllids not known to occur in Hawaii. On January 4, Oahu inspectors treated and destroyed 168 cartons of red bell peppers which arrived via containership from Oakland, California.
December 12 – Maui inspectors rejected a shipment of 16 bunches of astromeria cut flowers due to infection with a fungal disease not known to occur in Hawaii on this type of flower. The shipment from California was treated and destroyed.
December 19 – Kauai inspectors intercepted a UPS shipment of
four olive plants, which were contaminated with
soil. Approximately half a pound of soil was removed
from the roots and the shipment was released for delivery.
December 22 – Oahu inspectors treated and destroyed five cartons of
tangerines, which arrived via DHL from California.
The tangerines were infested with scales that are not known to be
established in Hawaii.
December 23 – Oahu inspectors treated and destroyed eight cartons of artichokes consigned to a Honolulu produce distributor due to heavy infestation of thrips. The cartons were included in a shipment from Los Angeles and arrived via containership.
December 27 – Ten bunches of larkspur and 10 bunches of snapdragons were treated and destroyed due to heavy infestations of fungal diseases. The infected flowers were included in a shipment of assorted flowers arriving via air cargo from Los Angeles.
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NEWS FROM THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORP (ADC)
The Agribusiness Development Corporation as awarded a contract to Element Environmental LLC to conduct a study on the Wahiawa Irrigation System, including Lake Wilson (Wahiawa Reservoir) and the dam area. Included in the study will be an engineering evaluation of the dam structure, an assessment of the agricultural economic potential of the system and evaluation of legal issues related to the reservoir and irrigation system. It is expected that the study will be completed in late summer. The study was contracted by the ADC Board in order to better assess the irrigation system and for consideration in a proposed acquisition of the privately owned system.
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VEGETABLE REVENUES FOR 2005 HIGHEST ON RECORD
Mark Hudson, State Statistician for the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Office, offered his perspective regarding the recently released Annual Hawaii Vegetables publication. Hudson said, “Vegetable farm value is estimated at $54.3 million in 2005 which is up fractionally from the previous state record high set in 2004. Farm price changes were mixed, but a one percent increase in production contributed to the newly posted record high. The year started with wet conditions due to unstable weather conditions producing heavy showers during January and February. These growing conditions slowed crop development and hindered fieldwork activities. The 2005 rainy season was not as intense and was mainly concentrated in the eastern half of the State. Vegetable and melon growers benefited from a mixture of mostly dry weather and a few periods of moderate to heavy showers for the remainder of the year.”
2005 Publication Highlights
* Tomato revenues accounted for 17 percent of the total, at $9.8 million
* Tomato farm price per pound, at $0.69, is a new state record
* Watermelons revenues made up 6 percent of the total, at $3.1 million
* Watermelons farm price per pound, at $0.27, sets a state record high
Complete results on all surveys conducted by the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Office can be found at: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Hawaii/index.asp
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HDOA ANNUAL REPORT ON-LINE
The HDOA Annual Report for fiscal year 2006 (July 2005 to June 2006) is now available on the department’s website at: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/leg2007.htm
The report includes program highlights from the divisions and also fiscal and statistical data.