[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 23, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       150TH ANNIVERSARY OF USDA

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, last week we celebrated the 150th 
anniversary of the United States Department of Agriculture, also known 
as the USDA. On May 15, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed 
legislation to create the USDA. Since this day, the USDA has made major 
contributions to agriculture that have benefited the people of the 
United States.
  Hawaii has a historic relationship with the USDA that began during 
Hawaii's territorial days. Our very own University of Hawaii at Manoa 
campus began as a land-grant college of agriculture and mechanic arts 
in 1907. John Washington Gilmore, the first president of the College of 
Hawaii, the predecessor of the University of Hawaii, was the son of a 
farmer who was tasked to build Hawaii's first agricultural school. 
During the past 100 years, the University helped Hawaii diversify its 
economy, sustain its environment, and build stronger families and 
communities.
  Hawaii faces unique challenges when it comes to food security. Hawaii 
depends on imported food for approximately 85 percent of its food 
supply. For the United States as a whole, imports make up about 15 
percent of total food consumption. In addition, higher energy-related 
transportation costs, and rapidly escalating commodity prices translate 
into very high food costs for Hawaii consumers. Further, if there is a 
shipping disruption of any kind, it is estimated that Hawaii has a 4 to 
7 day food supply.
  The magnitude for Hawaii of this potential and unprecedented food 
security crisis has prompted a restructuring of Hawaii's agriculture, 
with a move from large-scale plantation agriculture to smaller scale, 
more diversified agriculture, with an initial emphasis on import 
substitution. This process has been occurring over the past 20 years 
with many large scale plantations either closing or shifting to 
overseas locations. Our situation remains a struggle. There is only one 
sugarcane and one pineapple operation remaining in the State. There are 
no dairies on the Island of Oahu and the only two remaining in the 
State are on the Big Island. There are no slaughter or meat processing 
facilities on Oahu. A major employer on the Island of Molokai is gone 
and, with it, agricultural production and water supplies for residents. 
Finally, the only poultry operations remaining are four egg producers 
on Oahu.
  The rapid closures of these farming and farm-related operations 
continues to pose a serious challenge for our agriculture industry in 
Hawaii as these operations were attempting a transition to agriculture 
supportive of local consumption through import substitution. 
Accordingly, efforts to support those remaining in agriculture to make 
the transition to an agriculture supportive of Hawaii food security is 
also critical to the continued sustainability and viability of our 
agriculture industry in the State of Hawaii.
  The USDA plays a major role in preservation. The U.S. Forest Service, 
part of the USDA, protects and manages our Nation's forests and 
grasslands. Hawaii's rainforests contain numerous plant species that 
are not found anywhere else in the world, and they are part of a 
unique, delicate ecosystem consisting of countless native Hawaiian 
animal species. The Forest Service has helped protect the beauty of 
Hawaii's rainforests by fighting invasive species and destructive human 
practices.
  The USDA hopes to protect the environments of Hawaii and the rest of 
the United States with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 
also known as APHIS. The mission of APHIS is to protect our Nation's 
agriculture and animal and plant resources from diseases and pests. 
APHIS plays a major role in the protection of Hawaii's environment. 
Invasive species such as fruit flies, coffee berry borers, and Varroa 
mites have been devastating to Hawaii's agriculture and fragile 
ecosystem. If Hawaii fails to stop potential invasive species including 
the Brown Tree Snake, the results will be catastrophic. Even though 
Hawaii may be small compared to the continental United States, our 
islands contain one the most diverse ecosystems in the world. It is in 
our country's interest to keep these protective programs. APHIS also 
protects the continental United States from potential destructive 
invasive species that can wreak havoc on our Nation's agriculture. 
Programs such as APHIS protect both Hawaii and the continental United 
States and are vital for economic and environmental security for 
everyone.
  In addition to preservation, the USDA helps with innovation. The 
Agricultural Research Service is responsible for conducting basic, 
applied and developmental research on: soil, water, and air sciences; 
plant and animal productivity; commodity conversion and delivery; human 
nutrition; and the integration of agriculture systems. Through 
research, development, and other federal programs, the USDA has helped 
farmers produce food efficiently and sustainably. The United States is 
a world leader in agricultural production, and our agriculture research 
infrastructure continues to give our country a competitive edge.
  Agriculture has been, and remains, an important pillar of the 
American economy. The USDA touches all Americans and will continue to 
contribute to our society far into the future. I wish nothing but the 
best for the USDA in the years to come.

                          ____________________