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Laure McElwee, Realtor s 877-247-1362 How low can it go? Livestock production spirals downward Hawaii livestock production is continuing its downward spiral.
Cattle, swine and egg production have dropped consistently and significantly since the early 1990s. The high costs of raising animals, combined with the increased lower-cost competition from the mainland, make local livestock abundance difficult, said state officials and Hawaii Island producers.
The National Agricultural Statistics Services reported in its March review that egg production (6.9 million) decreased 21 percent, pork production (283,000) dropped 6 percent and beef production (540,000 pounds) lessened 5 percent, compared to a year ago. What percentage of the state production is from Hawaii Island is unknown, as the agency does not break down the numbers by county, said Mark Hudson, director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service Hawaii Field Office.advertisement
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Despite the growing trend toward eating locally and calls for self-sufficiency, Hawaii still relies on imports. In its annual legislative report, the state Department of Agriculture stated the following live animals imports from June 2005 to July 2006: 194 cattle, 13,371 hogs, 4,877 goats, 151,902 chicks, and 3,005 chickens and gamecocks. There were also shell egg inspections for 490,202 cases, meaning a fifteen- or thirty-dozen egg case. The exact point of origin was not reported and state officials claim it would be difficult to track.
Hawaii County's value worth of livestock sales in 2005 was $16,924,000 for cattle and $319,000 for hogs. To avoid disclosure of individual operations, the value of egg sales wasn't reported for the island, but was $8,979,000 in the state, according to National Agricultural Statistics Services.
Hawaii County reported in 2003 the value of livestock sales to be 27,241,000 -- $13,811,000 for cattle and $440,000 for hogs, excluding interfarm sales. Total livestock operations were 3,250, according to its data book.
Awareness and support for initiatives relating to the farming community was noticeable during this legislative session, Matthew Loke, administrator for the state Agricultural Development Division.While several bills relating to agricultural lands, their importance and use did not pass, Loke insisted those issues will reappear.
"We need to keep open areas," he said. "Agriculture enhances the economic value of the land."
Gov. Linda Lingle signed last month the livestock revitalization bill, providing livestock producers with assistance to help mitigate rising costs of feed. It appropriated $3.3 million, which will be used to reimburse a portion of the feed costs for produces of poultry products (60 percent), milk (40 percent), as well as swine and cattle raised and slaughter in Hawaii (50 percent), Loke said.
The Department of Agriculture is working on the rules pertaining to qualifications and anticipates beginning reimbursement disbursements in October.
Loke suggested farmers help educate consumers about buying local products by promoting benefits like quality, taste and freshness. He advised them to join the state's Seal of Quality program, which strives to protect Hawaii agricultural products' integrity and value as well as establish brand identity. He said Kahua Ranch promotes its products well.The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is hosting a two-day strategic planning session, discussing how to revitalize the livestock industry, Loke said. The event begins at 9 a.m. July 31 and will be held at the state Department of Agriculture office, located at 1851 Auiki St. in Honolulu.
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