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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.524 2018-2020 • From: William and Anne Marie Jacintho To: Council Testimony Subject: Opposed to Bill 101 Date: Tuesday,November 19,2019 8:42:18 AM Chair and Members of the Hawaii County Council, my name is William Jacintho, President of the Maui Cattlemen's Association. The Maui Cattlemen's Association Opposes Bill 101, and echo's the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council's Testimony here below. Thank you for the opportunity to Testify on this item William G. Jacintho, MCA President F.±.5 Hawaii Cattlemen's Testimony Hawaii County Council Bill 101 Chair and members of the Hawaii County Council, My name is Keith K. Unger and I am the President of the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council. The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc. (HCC) is the Statewide umbrella organization comprised of the four county level Cattlemen's Associations. Our 150+member ranchers represent over 60,000 head of beef cows; more than 75% of all the beef cows in the State. Ranchers are the stewards,of approximately 25% of the State's total land mass. The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council strongly opposes Bill 101. We are concerned that passing Bill 101 will set a precedent that will eventually lead to a ban on all herbicides in the state of - Hawaii. In regard to herbicide and pesticide use, the ranching community in Hawaii finds ourselves aligned with all businesses and agencies that use these products. In all cases, we strive to minimize the use of herbicides and pesticides but need to protect the right to use them. In the ranching community, we go to great lengths to ensure that all products are used pursuant to federal and state guidelines, are stored properly, and employees are trained on a regular basis in regard to safety and mitigating any effect on neighboring.properties. Rather than a ban on all pesticides and herbicides by all county departments, we recommend that each department generate a report on how they plan on minimizing their uses in the future. Keith K. Unger President Hawaii Cattlemen's Council Comm. isw Ref.To: UJUnCid Ref. date NOV 2 0 2019