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Kona <br />Soil and Water Conservation District <br />April 7, 2010 <br />81 - 948 Waena'Oihana Loop # 101 - Kealakekua, HI 96750 - 808.322 - 2484 - FAX 808 322.3735 <br />Hawaii County Council Members <br />RE: Kealakehe Green Waste <br />k nawltislion eobdej <br />The Kona Soil and Water Conservation District's Board of Directors has authorized me to speak as <br />their representative. They have requested I provide testimony in _ <br />faetltEy- it OPpz;liOK4, Q t0,w. <br />41 "2- ko ici 6 iuguitt A� i (1 it T <br />The Kona Soil and Water Conservation District wants to express the value the green waste program is <br />to our local agricultural producers. Many farmers struggle with the quality of their soil. One of the <br />best things a producer can do to help develop quality soil is to put a 3 -5 inch layer of mulch down. <br />Ideally this will be repeated 2 -3 times and then, if the producer grows orchard crops, coffee, citrus, <br />etc they can install conservation cover on the mulch. <br />Aloha County Council Members, <br />While mulch is improving soil it is also protecting it from erosion and it helps to stabilize soil <br />temperature and helps retain soil moisture. <br />Right now producers can obtain a great deal of mulch simply for the cost of delivery. Since the green <br />waste facility is centrally located in Kona it is a reasonable fee. Moving the green waste facility to <br />Pu'uanahulu will increase the costs for our local producers. Many conservation plans call for <br />hundreds or thousands of cubic yards of mulch to provide the desired results. It takes many deliveries <br />to provide that quantity. Not all producers benefit from government cost share programs and <br />therefore carry the burden of this cost on their own. <br />Considering the hardships and cutbacks to the support services networks for our agricultural <br />community, a reduction in staffing of agricultural inspectors, a reduction in staffing at the extension <br />services office, a severe drought that has brought harm to every farm in West Hawaii we feel the <br />County Council should support our farmers by creating a greenwaste system that is sustainable for <br />everyone. <br />It - <br />Best regards, <br />Rick Robinson <br />Chairperson, Kona Soil and Water Conservation District <br />Kawika Marquez William "Skip" Cowell <br />Board of Directors <br />Greg Hendrickson <br />Comet No. 7 T I • Z <br />Ref. 7o: <br />Ref. Dote � �lU <br />Virginia Isbell Rick Robinson <br />