ballot amendment agriculture enterpr.

[lquade]

been trying to research this to no avail. even group supporting this are very carefull in what they say... any thoughts on this? i did find that each application will go to legislature to approve? so is this only another way to suck taxpayers dollars to support big business or is it legit... any thoughts appreciated here..

[PauHana]

Fortunately there is a good article explaining this amendment in today's Tribune Herald. It explains one benefit I hadn't thought of that could benefit Puna.
A group of small farmers could band together to establish a commercial kitchen to create value added products from the crops they produce. These bonds would be at a lower interest rate than Bank of Hawaii would charge.
Taxpayers ARE NOT on the hook for paying the loan off, only the farmers who made the loan.

[kalakoa]

A group of small farmers could band together to establish a commercial kitchen

Unless this Amendment also directs County to facilitate issuance of the (almost always required) Special Use Permit, a good chunk of the farmers' bond would be spent on the legal wrangling necessary for their enterprise to exist.

Otherwise, great idea.

[PauHana]

They may not need an SUP to process their agricultural product. Did Mauna Loa Macnut need a SUP, Puna Papaya,coffee roasters at farms, or even sugar mills? That type of enterprise may well be exempted, these rules were written when Sugar was still King.

I will call Planning and let you know.

[lquade]

thank you pauhana for reference to article. after careful study of it and other info i found. i think i will vote No. since its application needs to go through the legislature i cant imagine a small farmer or even small farmer coop having the time/money to do that but only those big agi concerns that already have lobby folk there in honolulu. just too ify for me. seems if they dont want people to really understand a bill they leave it pretty vague and thats what i am feeling here..

[Anxious Messiah]

It would also open up a loophole where ag lands can be used for non-ag development.

Also, large scale for-profit agribusiness will also be eligible for low cost, state-funded loans. How well are small scale family owned farms going to be able to compete with that?

"Currently, agricultural enterprises serving important agricultural lands may receive loans and assistance via bonds, but the proposed amendment would make any agricultural enterprise eligible to receive such."



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Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.

[kalakoa]

It would also open up a loophole where ag lands can be used for non-ag development.

Nothing new here -- but with State-backed debt, the People could pay for corporations to exercise the existing loopholes. Hooray for democracy.