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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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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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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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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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Department of Agriculture Chair Sharon Hurd told state lawmakers at an informational briefing on Monday that general funds would help free up money for other biosecurity efforts and stabilize the funding for those employees.
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The snake was found at a hardware store while workers were unloading supplies from the shipping container. Police arrived and killed the snake with a pellet gun.
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Calls for investments in innovative industries; State ag dept. asks for more funds; Reflections on the anniversary of the 2018 Hawaiʻi false missile alert
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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.
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The state Department of Agriculture wants to team up with other agencies to encourage Hawaiʻi agriculture. On Thursday, during the first of the two-day Hawaiʻi Food System Summit, the agriculture department said one way it’s trying to get that done is by gathering stakeholders along the food supply chain.
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The state Department of Agriculture’s focus on fighting recent pest outbreaks in Hawaiʻi includes speedy rule making and more funding for the department. Two of the most concerning pest species in Hawaiʻi are the coconut rhinoceros beetle and the little fire ant.