Bill Text: HI SB2037 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Farming Technique Mentor Program; Agriculture; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-04 - The committee on AGL deferred the measure. [SB2037 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SB2037-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2037
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
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 the current population of Hawaii is approximately 1,300,000 people and that between eighty and ninety per cent of the food consumed in the State is imported.  The legislature also finds that the majority of all of the State's petro-chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are imported.  The costs associated with the State's dependency on imported goods contributes to the high costs of food production and can also affect the quality and crop of the soil in the State.

     Agricultural production that relies on local, organic, biodynamic, and bio diverse methods, such as the Korean natural farming method, provides a viable alternative that should be considered and encouraged in the State.  However, the legislature finds that there is a general lack of knowledge within the farming community about these alternative methods.  Consequently, it would be desirable to establish a statewide and island-specific farm mentoring program to teach farmers locally sourced, organic, biodynamic, and bio diverse farming techniques that rely on integrated farming practices using vegetative and animal waste products, instead of relying on imported fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a statewide and island-specific farming technique mentor program.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of agriculture the farming technique mentor program.  The primary goal of this program is to provide grants to educate farmers and farming organizations in the State regarding new and innovative farming techniques that encourage the reliance on locally sourced inputs.  The curriculum of the farming technique mentor program shall include but not be limited to instruction relating to:

     (1)  Using locally sourced organic, biodynamic, and bio diverse agricultural amendments and techniques that rely on integrated farming practices that use vegetative and animal waste products and diverse crops;

     (2)  Culturing indigenous microorganism;

     (3)  Recycling nutrients back into the ground of the farm;

     (4)  Managing, harvesting, and marketing crops;

     (5)  Using integrated pest management; and

     (6)  Breeding and releasing beneficial insects.

     (b)  The department of agriculture shall:

     (1)  Establish at least one farming technique mentor program for each island; provided that the islands of Kahoolawe, Niihau, and Lanai are not required to have a program;

     (2)  Establish a farming technique mentor grant program that provides grants, of up to $50,000 each, to individual farmers and farming organizations participating in the program; and

     (3)  Allocate funds appropriated to the farming technique mentor program, provided that funds be allocated to each island based upon requests for proposals to pay reasonable and necessary expenses for participation of the program.

     (c)  The following types of farms shall have preference for grant approval:

     (1)  Existing farms that use a minimum of seventy-five per cent of local resources for agricultural production; and

     (2)  Existing farms that are certified to teach Korean natural farming techniques.

     (d)  All funds appropriated for the farming technique mentor program shall be deposited in a separate account of the general fund under the control of the department of agriculture and shall only be used for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the purpose of establishing the farming technique mentor program and providing monetary grants issued pursuant to section 2; provided that the funds appropriated by this Act may also be used for farm tools, materials, equipment, insurance, licensing, legal services, and accounting costs.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Farming Technique Mentor Program; Agriculture; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the farming technique mentor program within the DOA; Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.