Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.068 2012-2014 Murashige, Laura From: Lorie Farrell [lorie.farrell©gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 7:20 AM To: Counciltestimony Subject: Testimony on Bill 109 & 113 Attachments: Hawaii County Council 0902mn.pdf 52 w, ;gin 7,,..,,,lifi G..) ry rn - Ti ''r ,.--i Hawaii County --G CD Council 0902mn.p... O„ Comm. No. 3 SS• (D 8 Ref.To: P/PSG/TC Ref. Date SEP 0.4 1013 1 Hawaii County Council Committee on Public Safety & Mass Transit Wednesday September 4, 2013 1:30 p.m. Testimony Against Bills 109 and 113 Committee Chair Ford and Members of the Committee: I strongly oppose Bills 109 and 113 that imposes limits the farmer or rancher's right to farm. Article X1 , Section III of the State Constitution states: AGRICULTURAL LANDS Section 3. The State shall conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands. The Constitution does not limit the kinds of agriculture or how farmers grow or raise crops and livestock. This section of the Constitution resulted from the foresight by the members of the 1978 Constitutional Convention. As the tides of change were starting in Hawaii with new economic opportunities expanding, moving away from a rural based economy, the people of Hawaii understood that critical levels of agriculture must be maintained in Hawaii to provide a level of increased self-sufficiency. Increased self-sufficiency can be interpreted in many ways. Some wish it to mean that crops and livestock must only be produced locally. A broader interpretation for this may be the ability to provide for the people of Hawaii. This can result from having agricultural lands in production, regardless of the kind of agriculture so at times of need, production may quickly switch to meet emergency needs. Even during the days before the Constitutional Amendment, this scenario played out in Hawaii during World War II. Sugarcane plantations were at their height along with large crop and livestock production. Yet war resulted in shortages. Plantations were able to switch to other crops to meet the needs of the people of Hawaii. Crops to provide basic staples such as flour were grown on the neighbor islands, processed and shipped to Oahu. This capacity occurred because lands were in agriculture. It did not matter what was grown ... lands in active agricultural production were available to provide the opportunity to meet the needs of Hawaii. It is not enough that there be lands zoned as agriculture ... agriculture only exists because there is a farmer or rancher working the land. This provides an insight of why it is important that maximum levels of production agriculture is sustained within the State. This requires people dedicated to the industry —who invest and spend resources to raise crops and livestock during difficult times as well as affluent times. It means farmers and ranchers who persevere even as the going gets rough or choose to farm even as other career paths provide an easier way to make a living or have less risk. This means a level of resiliency to recover from catastrophic events whether they be nature — storms and droughts or pestilence from pests and diseases or economic from widely fluctuating resource costs that threaten farm viability. Those who come in opposition have or strive to be resilient and able to provide AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, not only niche crops. This means assurance that affordable food and fiber are available to everyone regardless of economic status. They need to be applauded. To support these goals, a wide variety of tools are needed and the bills in discussion today, seek to impose restrictions to their access. Therefore, I am in strong opposition to the passage of either bill. Thank you for this opportunity to provide my opinion on this matter and respectfully request your strong OPPOSITION of both measures. Please send a loud message that the Big Island: • is committed and dedicated to agriculture • supports farmers and ranchers who chose careers in this difficult occupation • believes in agriculture that provides safe and affordable food for everyone. • recognizes agriculture as a critical and vital component of its economic and social fabric. Thank you. Mae Nakahata 75 Kawehi Place Kula, Hawaii 96790