Department of Agriculture

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE MEETING

Date:               January 30, 2012 (Monday)                           

Time:               9:00 a.m.                                                                    

Location:         Plant Quarantine Conference Room

                        1849 Auiki Street
                        Honolulu, HI  96819

                      

I.          CALL TO ORDER

II.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM 11/22/11 MEETING

III.         COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (ORAL OR WRITTEN)

 

1. COMMUNICATIONS FROM DIVISIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

A.         AGRICULTURAL LOAN DIVISION

1.      Request for Approval of One (1) Direct Operating Loan to Brendan L. Balthazar.  

 

         Action:  Approved

         Disposition:  Loan being processed for closing.

2.      Request for Approval of One (1) Direct New Farmer Operating Loan to ‘Ano’ano Farms, LLC and Max C.K. Bowman, co-borrowers. 

         Action:  Approved

         Disposition:  Loan being processed for closing.

3.      Request for Approval of One (1) Direct Operating Loan to Gerry Rodriguez Barao, Sr. and Melanie T. Barao, husband and wife.

 

         Action:  Approved

         Disposition:  Loan being processed for closing.

 

B.         AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DIVISION

 

1.     Request for Consent to Assignment of Lease
                     General Lease No. S-4687
                     Keahole Agricultural Park, Phase I, Lot 8, Island of Hawai’i

 

         Action:  Approved

         Disposition:  The applicant has been notified of the approval.              Assignment document is being prepared.

 

2.      Request for Extension and Assignment
                      of General Lease No. S-3770, Lot No. 30

         Koolaupoko, Waimanalo, Island of Oahu

 

         Action:  Approved

         Disposition:  Extension document was drafted and is being reviewed by

         our deputy attorney general.

 

C.        PLANT INDUSTRY DIVISION

 

1. Request to:  (1) Allow the Importation of Various Species of Fungi, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus luchuensis, and Aspergillus oryzae, on the List of Restricted Microorganisms (Part A), by Permit, for the Brewing of Shochu, a Distilled Beverage; and (2) Establish Permit Conditions for the Importation of Various Species of Fungi, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus luchuensis, and Aspergillus oryzae, on the List of Restricted Microorganisms (Part A), by Permit, for the Brewing of Shochu, a Distilled Beverage

         Action:  Approved

         Disposition:  Permit pending site inspection and approval.  The applicant will notify the Plant Quarantine Branch when the site is ready for inspection.

 

2.      (1) Request for Extension of Time for Submission of Hearing Officer’s Report and Recommendation on Proposed Amendments to Chapter 4-72, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Entitled “Plants and Non-Domestic Animal Quarantine, Plant Intrastate Rules” to, Among Other Things, Restrict the Movement of Coffee Plants and Plant Parts, Unroasted Coffee Seeds, Used Coffee Bags, and Coffee Harvesting Equipment from the Island of Hawaii, Except by Permit, to Prevent the Spread of Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari); (2) Submission of Hearing Officer’s Report and Recommendation on Proposed  Amendments To Chapter 4-72, HAR; (3) Request for Acceptance of Minutes of Public Hearings; and (4) Request for Adoption of Proposed Amendments to Chapter 4-72, HAR.

        

         Action:  Approved

                                 Disposition: Governor Neil Abercrombie approved the amendments

                                 to chapter 4-72 on February 13, 2012. The rules were filed at the

                                 Lieutenant Governor’s Office and are effective February 24, 2012.

 

D.        AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (ADC)

1.      Discussion regarding the Board of Agriculture’s Statutory Responsibility to Approve Projects, Development Plans and Facility Programs (HRS 163D-8.5)

 V.        NEW BUSINESS

VI.        ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING