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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.133 2012-2014 •Y Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura From: Bridget Napier[bridgnapier©msn.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 11:30 AM To: counciltestimony©co.hawaii.hi.us c') c� Subject: Testimony Position: Opposed to Bill 109 and Bill 113 CSC Attachments: Bill 109 113_Testimony _Aug 2013_.docx `''v Hawaii County Council w -< Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street r— rn Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit Weds September 4, 2013 at 1 :30 pm Bill 109 Related to the Restriction of Genetically Modified Organisms Bill 113 Related to Genetically Engineered Crops and Plants Position: Opposed to Bill 109 and Bill 113 Committee Chair Ford, Committee Vice Chair Wille and members of the Hawaii County Council, My name is Bridget Napier; I am providing testimony in opposition to Bill 109 and Bill 113. I oppose this bill because of the many negative consequences this bill would have for Big Island farmers, agriculture researchers, consumers, and future local farmers. For Instance these Bills would prohibit livestock and aquaculture producers from efficiently growing cost effective feed locally, requiring them to import at a higher price the exact same feeds. How will Hawaii County farmers and ranchers compete when everyone but us has access to GE technology? Having Anti-GMO legislation in Hawaii County will discriminate against our farmers and ranchers who choose to use approved genetic engineered technology to grow safe and wholesome food and other agriculture products. These Bills also damage Hawaii's reputation for producing some of the best crops on the planet, harms our markets, and eventually destroy our agriculture industry. Personally I've seen livestock agriculture practically fall apart in Hawaii. I'm the fourth generation farmer/rancher in my family. My family opened a business on Oahu in 1993 that solely supported livestock agriculture in 2006 we closed operations due to a major decline in the industry on Oahu and shipments coming in to Oahu from other islands. This industry has mostly died on Oahu but still thriving on the island of Hawaii. Farmers/Ranchers should be able to make the choices as to what types of technology as well as grow the crops they choose. In 2004 Hawaii's dairies disappeared to the way of pineapple and sugar. Even at a time of renewed interest in diversified agriculture and the islands' self-reliance, dairies are succumbing to price pressures, mainland competition and a lack of local support. At that time local dairies supplied about 45 percent of the state's milk. Annually, 34 million pounds or 17 percent came from the Big Island and 56.6 million pounds, about 28 percent, came from Oahu. Since this point many ranchers and dairymen have adopted new technologies to try and reestablish the industries and this Bill would be the start of restricting the technologies and or types of crops that they will be allowed to use for their businesses. I don't know about you but I don't think that's fourth coming of showing local support for agriculture do you?? Comm. No. 3 3 5. /'33 Ref. To: "sm f� 9/3/2013 Ref. Date SEP 0 4 2013 Page 2 of 2 Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in opposition to Bill 109 and Bill 113. Thank You! Bridget P. Napier Bridget Napier 808-630-9211 (mobile) 9/3/2013 Hawai'i County Council Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit Weds September 4, 2013 at 1 :30 pm Bill 109 Related to the Restriction of Genetically Modified Organisms Bill 113 Related to Genetically Engineered Crops and Plants Position: Opposed to Bill 109 and Bill 113 Committee Chair Ford, Committee Vice Chair Wille and members of the Hawaii County Council, My name is Bridget Napier; I am providing testimony in opposition to Bill 109 and Bill 113. I oppose this bill because of the many negative consequences this bill would have for Big Island farmers, agriculture researchers, consumers, and future local farmers. For Instance these Bills would prohibit livestock and aquaculture producers from efficiently growing cost effective feed locally, requiring them to import at a higher price the exact same feeds. How will Hawaii County farmers and ranchers compete when everyone but us has access to GE technology? Having Anti-GMO legislation in Hawaii County will discriminate against our farmers and ranchers who choose to use approved genetic engineered technology to grow safe and wholesome food and other agriculture products. These Bills also damage Hawaii's reputation for producing some of the best crops on the planet, harms our markets, and eventually destroy our agriculture industry. Personally I've seen livestock agriculture practically fall apart in Hawaii. I'm the fourth generation farmer/rancher in my family. My family opened a business on Oahu in 1993 that solely supported livestock agriculture in 2006 we closed operations due to a major decline in the industry on Oahu and shipments coming in to Oahu from other islands. This industry has mostly died on Oahu but still thriving on the island of Hawaii. Farmers/Ranchers should be able to make the choices as to what types of technology as well as grow the crops they choose. In 2004 Hawaii's dairies disappeared to the way of pineapple and sugar. Even at a time of renewed interest in diversified agriculture and the islands' self-reliance, dairies are succumbing to price pressures, mainland competition and a lack of local support. At that time local dairies supplied about 45 percent of the state's milk. Annually, 34 million pounds or 17 percent came from the Big Island and 56.6 million pounds, about 28 percent, came from Oahu. Since this point many ranchers and dairymen have adopted new technologies to try and reestablish the industries and this Bill would be the start of restricting the technologies and or types of crops that they will be allowed to use for their businesses. I don't know about you but I don't think that's fourth coming of showing local support for agriculture do you?? Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in opposition to Bill 109 and Bill 113.