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Form #: B-52 <br />7/18/91 <br />DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE <br />REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />DEPARTMENT: Research and Development DATE: November 21, 2024 <br />STAFF CONTACT: Glenn Sako, Agriculture Specialist PHONE: <br />A. REQUEST: <br />This is a request to enter into an agreement with the Department of Agriculture, State of Hawaii for the <br />purpose of assisting the coffee farmers by offsetting the cost of the insecticide to control the Coffee Berry <br />Borer and/or the cost of approved fungicides to control Coffee Leaf Rust. This request is to add $135,000.00 <br />to the existing balance of $110,690.40. Payment from the state will be for partial reimbursement of the <br />insecticide/fungicide cost. <br />The additional $135,000.00 will be added to Revenue Account 010.3305.89 and Expense account <br />010.161.5163.26. <br />B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED): <br />Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) and Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) are insidious pests and diseases that is threatening <br />the viability of Hawaii's coffee industry and research has shown that subsidizing the cost of pesticides is an <br />effective and necessary incentive to encourage farmers to adopt recommended pest management <br />strategies. This program will continue assistance to coffee growers by offsetting the cost of purchasing <br />pesticides containing Beauveria bassiana, a naturally occurring fungus known to cause mortality in CBB and <br />Hawaii Department of Agriculture approved and labeled pesticides for CLR. As CBB/CLR are most <br />prevalent on Hawai'i Island and most impacted farms are on Hawai'i Island, a collaborative partnership <br />between the County of Hawai'i and the State Department of Agriculture would enable the easiest access to <br />the program for the coffee farmers most in need. <br />The authorization for the original funding is from Act 105, SLH 2O14. <br />SIGNED: DATE: 11 /21 /2024 <br />e ent H ad <br />