RES 728 Draft 01 2016-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF HAWAII -�• �` !=t�= STATE OF HAWAII E Mow:d`. o�•wa RESOLUTION NO. 728 18 A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FARM SERVICE AGENCY TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO LIFT THE CAP ON THE NONINSURED CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DUE TO THE CATASTROPHIC CIRCUMSTANCES FACED BY THE HAWAII ISLAND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY. WHEREAS, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses, or prevents crop planting; and WHEREAS, according to U.S. Geological Survey, the lava event that started on May 3, 2018, destroyed over 700 homes and structures, and covered 13.7 square miles of land including parcels that housed local farm operations; and WHEREAS, in addition to the loss of local farm operations due to lava inundation, agriculture in the region and across Hawai`i Island has been affected due to earthquakes, toxic gases, volcanic ash, Pele's hair,thick volcanic smog (vog) and laze, water contamination and wildfires, all challenging agriculture production on Hawai`i Island; and WHEREAS, different types of agriculture have been affected by the many facets of the lava event, including cattle ranches wherein some 2,000 head of cattle needed to be relocated due to the then eminent lava hazards, as well as the deterioration of our island's prized papaya fields by sulfuric oxide gases; losing nearly 90% of the State's papaya's production; and WHEREAS,NAP provides assistance for crop losses when commercial crop insurance is not available, however a cap is in place limiting relief funds that can be released to farmers; and WHEREAS, the set cap amount of$125,000 per crop year,per individual or entity is not sufficient to cover the necessary expenditures relating to clearing, replanting, fencing, loss of inventory, infrastructure, and labor that will be required to recover from this lava disaster; and WHEREAS, this cap has been lifted in the past under similar catastrophic circumstances and it is time to do it again to help rebuild Hawai`i Island agriculture; and WHEREAS, the Hawai`i County Council is encouraged by and appreciates the level of assistance that has already been provided by the County, State, and Federal Government, as well as our State legislators and Congressional delegations, to work collaboratively to assist Hawai`i Island, and stands ready as a partnerto work collectively to lift the cap on the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program to rebuild our island's agricultural industry; now, therefore,