Farm Bill Draws Support of Isle Congressional Delegation

Press Release

Farm Bill Draws Support of Isle Congressional Delegation

Measure Contains Provisions Protecting Macadamia Nuts, Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers, and Spurs Biobased Energy Technologies

The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today hailed passage of the Farm Bill, and noted that the legislation included provisions that strengthen the state's agriculture sector and establishes the University of Hawaii as a regional center of study for biobased energy technologies.

The bill's key Hawaii-related provisions include:

* Adding macadamia nuts, one of Hawaii's signature products, to the mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling Program so that lesser quality macadamia nuts produced elsewhere cannot be legally labeled as Hawaii-grown.
* Authorizing $15 million in reimbursements per fiscal year for farmers and ranchers in Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. Territories because they are confronted with both production and transportation disadvantages simply because of their location.
* Establishing a Western Insular Pacific Subcenter at the University of Hawaii for Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau to explore how to enhance agricultural production through biobased energy and product technologies.
* Adding Hawaii to the list of states eligible for grants under the Agricultural Management Assistance Program, which provides cost-sharing assistance to help producers construct or improve water management and irrigation structures, plant trees, control soil erosion, practice integrated pest management, practice organic farming, and develop value-added processing.

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, who crafted several of the Hawaii-related provisions, said: "I am pleased that both the Senate and House have passed the Farm Bill by veto-proof margins. The overwhelming majority of lawmakers from both parties recognize that this measure is good for our nation.

"For Hawaii, which is known to produce the highest quality macadamia nuts in the world, the addition of macadamia nuts to the Country-of-Origin Labeling Program means consumers will get the high-quality product they expected when they purchase our macadamia nut products. That quality assurance will help to sustain our state's agriculture industry."

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka added: "This good, bipartisan Farm Bill benefits both consumers and agricultural producers. It will protect our natural resources, continue our investment in alternative energy to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, and better meet the needs of our children by ensuring they get nutritional food in school. This bill would offer reimbursement to Hawaii's geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers for transportation of agricultural products. It is also good news for local pet lovers, continuing the practice of allowing Hawaii residents to transport puppies from rabies-free countries."

U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie said: "One of the exciting prospects for Hawaii is how the bill expands economic opportunities by promoting alternate energy research and development, and Hawaii is the perfect proving ground for this. Our agricultural lands can grow crops to produce biodiesel fuel and ethanol or provide ideal locations to tap the sun, wind, and ocean for energy production. The establishment of the Western Insular Pacific Subcenter at the University of Hawaii is the perfect example. The subcenter will receive federal research funds to find ways to harness the energy of the sun by enabling entrepreneurs and others across the state - from a tree farmer on Kauai to algae growers on Hawaii Island - to compete for grants."

U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono added: "I am very pleased that my provision adding Hawaii to the list of only 15 states currently eligible for the cost-shared Agricultural Management Assistance Program was included in the final version of the Farm Bill. The program was developed for states currently underserved by crop insurance and provides the kind of farm-level assistance especially appropriate for Hawaii's diversified agriculture. In addition, the bill includes many other provisions I requested, including country-of-origin labeling for macadamia nuts, the Sun Grant Center at the University of Hawaii, increased funding for Specialty Crop grants, and other programs to benefit growers of fruits and vegetables, enhanced support for addressing invasive species concerns and for organic farming, and more funding for conservation and nutrition programs. This is the best Farm Bill ever for Hawaii."

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