STAND. COM. REP. NO.  673

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 508

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 508, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage and sustain livestock production in Hawaii by alleviating the high cost of livestock feed through the initiation of a feed development process by the Department of Agriculture.  Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Establishes and funds a grant program within the Department of Agriculture for Qualified Feed Developers;

(2)  Appropriates funds to reimburse Qualified Producers of certain agricultural products for feed costs and Qualified Feed Developers for development costs; and

(3)  Requires the Department of Agriculture to conduct a survey to identify, assess, and validate locally sourced feed ingredients and provides funds for the survey.

The Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Syngenta Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and two individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 508, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair