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The state Department of Agriculture is considering a change to its internal rules to stop the movement of plant material infested with pest species. Under the proposed changes, the State Plant Regulatory Official would be able to order a company to keep plant materials if it contains pests. The SPRO is in charge of the state’s pest detection and regulation.
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A family-owned farm in Wahiawa is winding down business operations after 114 years. Petersons’ Upland Farm will be winding down egg sales in the coming months as the owners transition to retirement.
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State plant inspectors went through more than 19 million parcels that came into Hawaiʻi last year. However, there were only about 90 inspectors who did that work. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service collected data from more than 700 local producers to estimate the damages and economic losses caused by the fires and high winds.
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There is some cautious optimism for the future of the state’s Farm to School program. The goal of the state Department of Education program is to use local agriculture to feed students.
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Local agriculture is facing a series of challenges, from invasive species to irrigation, and key state lawmakers have put together their legislative priorities this year to help farming and food production. Agriculture and food security have been a priority since the start of the legislative session last week.
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About 43,000 acres of pasture land are set to move to the state Department of Agriculture. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources currently manages that land, but this week it agreed to move it to the agricultural department sometime this year.
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There's a lot of talk about growing local agriculture, but we want to hear from those out in the field doing the work. Today, we're revisiting our favorite conversations from the past year with those who are getting down and dirty to find innovative solutions for food sustainability.
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The state Department of Agriculture asked for an additional $55 million in its budget at a Senate Ways and Means Committee meeting on Monday. Sharon Hurd has served as director of the department for the past year. She talked to HPR about the state of Hawaiʻi's agriculture.
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Local farmers and other agricultural producers can apply for reimbursement for recently bought compost. Each qualified applicant can receive up to $50,000.