Bill Text: HI HB1989 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Agriculture; Pilot On-farm Training Program for Mentors; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources ($)
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-04 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Yamane excused (1). [HB1989 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1989-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1989 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
H.D. 1 |
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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. Furthermore, the economic impact of food import replacement is significant. Food expenditures of local consumers from 2004 to 2005 amounted to $3,700,000,000. Assuming that eighty-five per cent of the food consumed in the State is imported, this translates to $3,145,000,000 of food expenditures leaving the State each year. Growing food within the State enables the expenditures on food to remain in the local economy.
The development of a whole 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 system approach to agriculture can improve food security and benefit the local economy through reducing production cost by promoting locally sourced inputs and the manufacturing thereof. Teaching a new generation of farmers to use this whole 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. On-farm mentoring aims to fulfill this need by bringing the students to the farm and compensating qualified farm mentors.
The purpose of this Act is to improve food security and self-sufficiency in the State by requiring the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to develop and implement a pilot on-farm training program for mentors.
SECTION 2. (a) To strengthen the training activities of the extension faculty and cooperative extension service within the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the college shall develop and implement a pilot on-farm training program for mentors that shall utilize skilled farmers in extension service training activities. The pilot program shall provide statewide and site-specific information and training to these farmers to enhance their ability to provide on-farm mentoring to students about methods to improve soil health by using whole system practices that 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 college of tropical agriculture and human resources. Skilled farmers who participate in the training activities as instructors or mentors shall receive appropriate compensation for services provided to the pilot program as determined by the college and as allowed by fiscal and personnel regulations and policies of the University of Hawaii.
(b) The college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall establish curriculum for the pilot on-farm training program for mentors that is appropriate for the training activities to be provided and shall include instruction on:
(1) Farming techniques that utilize locally sourced organic and other ecological and bio-diverse agricultural amendments and techniques relying on integrated farming practices, including the use of vegetative and animal waste products and diverse crops for soil amendments, seed, and other farm inputs, in accord with good agricultural practices to assure food safety;
(2) Use of indigenous sources of farming inputs, including the indigenous microorganisms used in certain farming techniques; and
(3) The recycling of nutrients back onto the farm.
The curriculum for the pilot on-farm training program for mentors may include instruction on the following, as deemed appropriate for particular sites and islands within the State:
(1) Farm management, including whole system farming;
(2) Animal husbandry, including animal and crop production;
(3) Crop management with an emphasis on soil health;
(4) Harvesting and storage for farmer cooperatives;
(5) Farm marketing with an emphasis on food cooperatives;
(6) Integrated pest management and multi-cropping; and
(7) The breeding and release of beneficial insects.
(c) The college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa shall prepare a report of its findings and recommendations on the pilot on-farm training program for mentors, including the future and funding requirements of the program and any necessary legislation. The report shall be submitted to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the pilot on-farm training program for mentors at the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.
Report Title:
Agriculture; Pilot On-farm Training Program for Mentors; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
Description:
Requires the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to develop and implement a pilot On-Farm Training Program for Mentors. Appropriation. Effective July 1, 2014. (HB1989 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
