COM 0604.027 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TESTIMONY PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL, HAWAII COUNTY, REGARDING THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE CF COUNTY LANDS ALONG THE HAMAKUA COAST, AUGUST 2 8 , 1 9 9 8 AT THE HONOKAA HIGH AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETORIUM BY Benjamin C. Mahilum, PhD (Soil Science) HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNTIL HAWAII COUNTY, STATE OF HAWAII: I am a retired university professor of soil and crop science, a member of the Hamakua/North Hilo Ag Coop and afull-time farmer in Honokaa since 1986 growing vegetables, coffee, macad- amia nut, bananas and tropical and subtropical fruits. Because of the exceedingly high initial cost of farmlands in Hawaii, farmers here need affordable land to get started in farming. Privately owned lands in Hamakua for general ag or diversified farming are leased at a minimum of $160/acre/year plus 3% of the gross for the first two years and $200/acre/year plus 3% of the gross in years 4-5 after which the lease will be re- negotiated every five years. This is on a leasing scheme of 5-10 years. State lands below the Lower Hamakua Ditch now lease for $70/acre/year for three years; $100/acre/year in the fourth to fifth years; and $125/acre/year from years 6-10, with the lease to be renegotiated every 10 years. The State does not collect any rental from the gross farm income and leases land for general ag for 35-55 years, along-term lease that will enable the farmer to obtain financing loans from any bank and comply with the land tenure required by the Natural Res- ource Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) for cost-sharing of farm im- provements and structures. These conditions provide the compelling evidence that only publicly owned lands provide affordable farmlands to the farmers in Hawaii. What is also important is that the State land lease can be renegotiated downward if farming is not profitable whereas it is extremely difficult, ii not impossible, to renegotiate a private land lease downward when farm- ing is subjected to adverse conditions. The State is not out to make money off the back of farm- ers but to create more employment opportunities for the community. To lower considerably the farm development costs for diversified ag, the plan of Councilman Dominic Yagong to lease the County lands to ranchers for at least five years beTore subleasing them to diversified ag farmers is the most prudent way of opening these lands to diversified farming and achieve the highest and best use of the land. To clear the land of grass and brush with a bulldozer depletes the soil of precious organic matter, accelerates soil erosion and ad- versely affects the biological, physical and chemical properties of the soil. Letting the cattle eat the grass and brush to clear the land is not only environmentally friendly but also derives income from the weeds. History has shown that large tracts of land owned by only one or two private entities eventually lead to monocropping and a plantation system that could collapse and turn the communities into economic turmoil and depression. History has also proved that small privately owned farming enterprises can survive and endure the boom-bust cycle that beseech farming enterprises worldwide. Furthermore, small diversified farms create 2-3 times more employment oppor- tunities than a monocropping and plantation system, increases per capita income and eventual) Ooosn,. Na. I+11e No. -P'rossnred ~ Kef. To: at. Uste SEP n i 1999