HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0393.015 2012-2014 Page 1 of l
Murashige, Laura
From: Earl Yamamoto [early31 @msn.com]
Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 10:21 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Bill 113
Attachments: Oppose Bill.docx
Attn: J Yoshimoto
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Comm. No. S
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Ref. Date 0.4 _ 113
9/3/2013
Aloha,
Mr. J. Yoshimoto, Council Chair and Members of the Hawaii County Council,
I am writing in opposition to Bill 113. This bill will create problems for the
fragile agricultural industry on the Big Island; as a farmer in the Lalamilo
Farmlots, I have witnessed many changes in our industry, as in life some good
and some not so!
This bill although stating that it will protect the environment will do just the
opposite! Take for instance Mossanto's Round up ready corn; grant glyphosate
(the active ingredient in round up) is a herbicide, but a mild one compared to
the alternative like Altrazone which contaminate ground water.
In our area (The Lalamilo Farmlots), farmers have moved away from
Organophosphates, carbamates and other harsh compounds simply because of
hybrid seeds that are resistant to certain bacterial fungus, and virus strains. To
name a few, tomatoes and lettuce spotted wilt virus, mosaic virus fusarium wilt,
Downy mildew, bacterial soft rot, bacterial ringspot, etc.
What I'm getting at is, the Island of Hawaii has the potential of growing every
vegetable or fruit, but also all of the insects and disease for it. Why, because of
the great growing environment with no winter dormancy period to slow insects,
and plant disease growth. So in the future, we will possibly need GMO
technology to sustain us.
Please vote against Bill 113.
Mahalo,
Earl T Yamamoto
Farmer
(808) 885-7573
P.O. Box 1423
66-1380 Lalamilo Farm Road
Kamuela, HI 96743