[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO EXPAND THE AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE 
                       PROGRAM TO INCLUDE HAWAII

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to expand 
USDA's Agricultural Management Assistance Program to include my State 
of Hawaii.
  The Agricultural Management Assistance Program provides cost-sharing 
assistance under contracts of three to ten years in fifteen specified 
states to help producers construct or improve water management and 
irrigation structures, plant trees, control soil erosion, practice 
integrated pest management, practice organic farming, develop value-
added processing, and enter into futures, hedging, or options contracts 
to reduce production, price, or revenue risk. This worthy program was 
established in 2000 to benefit states where participation in Federal 
crop insurance programs has been historically low.
  Hawaii, which was not included among the fifteen initial states, 
certainly qualifies based on this criterion, as there are relatively 
few Federal crop insurance programs for the crops we grow in Hawaii and 
those we have are only a few years old. Additionally, the activities 
allowed under this program coincide very well with the real needs of 
farmers in Hawaii, especially in relation to water management and 
irrigation, soil erosion, pest management, organic farming, and value-
added processing.
  The 2002 Farm Bill authorized annual funding of $20 million from 
FY2003 through FY2007. In FY2004, there were 723 active contracts and a 
total of $10.2 million was spent.
  There is clearly adequate room in this program for Hawaii, which is 
dead last among all the 50 States in agricultural assistance received 
as a percentage of the value of its agricultural production. Hawaii 
receives less than 1 cent per dollar of agricultural value compared 
with the nationwide average of 6 cents.
  I ask for my colleagues' support for including my state of Hawaii in 
this important program.

                          ____________________