WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced today that the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved $9 million for important Hawaii agriculture initiatives, including an additional $700,000 for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to provide 21 additional full time quarantine inspectors to ensure adequate and quick agricultural inspection services at Hawaii's airports. These initiatives are included in the Fiscal Year 1998 Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

"I am pleased that the Committee supports the protection of domestic agriculture in the continental United States from the introduction of pests while not disrupting tourist traffic in Hawaii," stated Senator Inouye

" Inadequate numbers of APHIS inspectors and inspection equipment have disruptive impacts on passengers departing Hawaii and tend to deter return visits by tourists. Therefore, adequate and efficient airport inspections of Hawaii passengers and cargo destined for other domestic ports are needed. Hawaii depends on air travel and cannot afford this disruption," continued Inouye.

Inouye's initiatives also include:

Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center
The Committee directed the Agricultural Research Service to assess the feasibility of greatly expanding the existing federal agriculture research laboratory on the Big Island. This national center would address problems of production of crops and commodities that can strengthen local economies, preparing these products for local markets or export to other islands, countries or the mainland U.S., and sanitation issues to permit transport.
Conservation Operations	$200,000
For the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to work in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a feasibility study for a watershed project in Waianae to alleviate and prevent the kind of flood disaster which has occurred in the area. Prolonged heavy rains, high surf, flooding, landslides, mudslides and severe storms beginning on November 5, 1996 caused widespread property damage and created public health hazards along the Waianae Coast, including overflowing cesspools, standing water and rainfall runoff from farms which carried animal fecal matter into residential areas. President Clinton initially declared a public health emergency and, later, a major disaster for the State of Hawaii.
Program Continuations:
Tropical and Subtropical Research	$2,724,000
This program is the main research effort in developing and promoting tropical and subtropical conditions, and is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and American universities in the tropics including: Hawaii, Guam, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Tropical Aquaculture Research	$1,612,000
With increasing emphasis on the health benefits of seafood, there are significant economic benefits that will accrue with the expansion of U.S. aquaculture. Hawaii offers a unique (and relatively isolated) year-round natural laboratory in which to develop and test nutrition and pest management strategies that will further the growth of the Hawaii and U.S. aquaculture industry. No other place in the country has the natural environment and the professional expertise needed to support the development of aquaculture in the tropical and subtropical United States. This work is conducted at the Oceanic Institute at Makapuu, with planned expansions of hatcheries and training facilities on Molokai and West Hawaii.
Sugarcane and Diversified Crop Research	$965,000
Though many of Hawaii's sugar plantations have ceased operations, there is a need to maintain the competitive position of the three remaining plantations and to assist in the transition of dislocated workers interested in diversified agricultural alternatives. In view of these challenges, the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, now called the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC), has appropriately redirected some of its resources to activities which support the diversification of Hawaii agriculture while maintaining its commitment to the remaining sugarcane production enterprises. At the direction of Senator Inouye, the Congress continues to appropriate nearly $1 million annually to assist in the operations of HARC's Aiea Experiment Station.
Agricultural Development in the American Pacific	$564,000
This is annual funding obtained by Senator Inouye for sustainable agricultural development in the American Pacific region. This project is the primary means for the research, extension, and instruction programs of the land-grant institutions within the American-affiliated Pacific to collaborate on agricultural and human resource development of island communities in the region while maintaining cultural, social, economic, and environmental integrity.
Fruit Fly Control	$275,000
This is annual funding obtained by Senator Inouye to develop effective nontoxic methods to control tephritid fruit flies. Tephritid fruit flies are one of the most damaging agricultural pests, infesting more than 200 varieties of fruit. Development of nontoxic fruit fly management tools having minimal impact on the natural environment is important to those areas of the country where these pests are not established. In Hawaii, where alien pests have become established, export of untreated fruits to mainland and overseas markets are restricted and, in many instances, these pests are so damaging that they preclude production even for local consumption. The Agricultural Research Service and the University of Hawaii have collaborated on the development and evaluation of currently acceptable or novel non-toxic fruit fly control strategies.
Pineapple Research	$298,000
This is the fourth year of funding to help the Hawaii pineapple industry develop pest resistant pineapple varieties. The nematode resistance in pineapple project has a unique blend of industry participation and a rigorous review process established by the University of Hawaii. Considerable progress has been made on establishing tissue culture processes that have minimal variability and on identifying nematode resistant genes.
Papaya Research	$298,000
This is fourth year funding to develop and implement a program to combat the papaya ringspot virus plaguing the papaya industry on the Big Island. Again, the University of Hawaii, in cooperation with Hawaii papaya growers, has developed a genetically resistant papaya variety. The industry is now seeking licenses to distribute seeds for this new variety to farmers.
Minor Crop Pest Control	$280,000
Senator Inouye seeks this support annually to develop and implement cost effective and environmentally safe methods to control insects, weeds, and other pests prominent in small scale farms in Hawaii. Without these low cost, environmentally safe disease and insect control strategies, Hawaii's agriculture will not be competitive in global markets.
Floriculture Research	$250,000
This is also funding that Senator Inouye has obtained for the last several years to help Hawaii's nursery farmers develop disease resistant and new varieties of flowers. University of Hawaii researchers, working closely with Hawaii flower growers, have made significant progress on continued development of new cultivars that enable global competitiveness. These new and beautiful varieties help to reduce cost by often being disease and insect resistant, thereby reducing production cost.
Molokai Agricultural Development and Conservation	$250,000
For the past six years, Senator Inouye has assisted Hawaiian Homestead farmers on Molokai, through the Molokai Agriculture Community Committee (MACC), to expand diversified agriculture and ranching opportunities through joint planning with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. The MACC has encouraged community-based and directed agricultural projects with federal matching funds provided on a competitive basis. To date, more than 80 family farms have benefitted from this program. Recently, the program is progressing from individual projects to a community project for the establishment of a slaughter and processing plant.
Animal Damage Control	$240,000
Annual funding by Senator Inouye for the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center to assist with rodent control in sugarcane and macadamia nut crops. Rodents in sugarcane and macadamia orchards continue to impede production and constantly raise public health concerns.
Subterranean Termite Research	$144,000
Senator Inouye's efforts have provided $144,000 annually to University of Hawaii scientists to develop and implement alternative methods to control and prevent termite damage to homes and other structures. The subterranean termite causes the greatest economic damage to homes and other structures in Hawaii compared to any other pest. With increasing environmental concerns, especially ozone depletion due to fumigation control methods, as well as concerns for public health and safety, there is a continuing need to develop safe methods to control this devastating pest. This project has developed effective termite barriers used in construction, as well as promising naturally occurring control methods.
Agricultural Diversification and Specialty Crops	$131,000
Diversification of agriculture through commercialization of specialty crops has gained added importance in Hawaii's agriculture's global competitive strategy. The downsizing of sugarcane has resulted in an unprecedented release of resources that makes diversification possible. This continuing project focuses on high value niche markets for relatively unknown agricultural products, and production and marketing systems, including medicinal/pharmaceutical crops, a naturally occurring low-caloric sweetener, plant products that go into making Hawaiian flower leis and other adornments, and the high pressure processing of Hawaii's tropical fruits.
Multi-Cropping Strategies for Aquaculture	$127,000
Continued annual support for aquaculture research and development targeted to the Island of Molokai. This project addresses development of aquacultural enterprises consistent with sustainable stewardship of land and water and the retention of community and cultural values. The Molokai community has identified the specific task of restoring historic fishponds. The community is seeking maximum efficiency in producing both marketable and subsistence products that can reduce the demand on natural stocks.

The Agriculture Appropriations Bill will now go to the full Senate for consideration. It will then face a joint House-Senate Conference and final Senate vote before its transmittal to the White House.