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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0150.009 2012-2014 04/10/2013 13:05 8083224635 LONGS DRUG #343 PAGE 01 PI SPECIAL rG /c ix„m �5Z� FACSIMILE TRANSMITTAL SHEET TO: PROM: Hawaii County Council Kona CountyFarm Bureau COMPANY: DATE: Hawaii County 4/10/2013 FAX NUMBER: TOTAL NO.OF PAGES,INCLUDING COVER: 961-8912 2 PHONE NUMBER: SENDER'S REFERENCE NUMBER: RF: YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER: alts to SWCD Budgets ❑URGENT 0 FOR REVIEW ©PLEASE COMMENT ❑PLEASE REPLY ❑PLEASE RECYCLE NOTES/COMMENTS: Aloha, The following letter is in support of at least maintaining the Kona SWCD funding. Thank you Comm. No. S-0' Ref. To: P "LU13 Ref. Date A�'R 04/10/2013 13:05 8083224635 LONGS DRUG #343 PAGE 02 KONA COUNTY FARM BUREAU P.O. Box 2341 • Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750 Phone: 808 324-6011 April 10, 2013 Hawaii County County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo,HI 96720 Dear County Council Members: This is a letter of support for the island's six soil and water conservation districts. The Kona SWCD reported to the KCFB that the Natural Resource Conservation Service, an agency of the USDA, with assistance from the Kona SWCD,was able to contract with 60 farmers to install fencing, irrigation systems,mulch,pipelines and other conservation practices with a value of nearly 2 million dollars out of the S million that was distributed throughout the Pacific Island Area. It is the understanding of the KCFB the Kona SWCD visited many of these farms and have ongoing relationships built on mutual trust and respect with these producers. The 2010 County of Hawaii Agricultural Development Plan considers essential many of the tasks already performed by the islands SWCDs. For instance,the plan seeks way to eliminate the spread of invasive species throughout the island. The Kona SWCD staff advises producers of steps they can take to minimize the very real invasive species risks involved with using mulch from the county's greenwaste program which has proven to be a tremendous way for spreading invasive pest species around,both. plant and animal. The plan describes the need for an organization to liaison between local producers and the various levels of government and the variety of agencies and programs available to assist our producers. The island SWCDs are already doing that. It is the hope of the Kona.County Faun Bureau that the County Council and the Department of Research and Development at least maintain current funding for our soil and water conservation districts. We really hope you would increase it because a staff of one, as it is for the Kona SWCD, simply is not enough for a community with hundreds of farms. Thank you for your consideration on the matter. Aloha, 'Ir`"09(- Stefanie Delmont President, Kona County Farm Bureau