More Farm Bureau Information

Kathleen Delate (kdelate@hawaii.edu)
Wed, 6 Dec 1995 10:37:08 -1000

More info. from the source: I spoke with the President of the Hawaii FB
Federation, and he agreed with the info. provided by EWG, but was quick
to add that they agree with the intent of the Clean Water Act, for
instance, but have problems with some of the regulations. He stated that
they "can't support regulations that get farmers kicked off their land."
His message was clear: work with us to find solutions that will preserve
farming while maintaining the environment.

I agree with Chuck Otte and David Waller that FB is a diverse organization
(the Hawaii President definitely knew that "we are a little different
from the mainland chapters.") We are fortunate in Hawaii to have a FB
group that considers organic farming "a profitable way to farm." The
President of the Kauai Organic Farmers' Association is now the President
of the Kauai FB chapter. Change, as Chuck Benbrook noted, may be slow in
coming, but it's good that we have some of the key players sitting down at the same table. It will be interesting to see if any of these
local players can effect change in DC--I will encourage them from here.

Kathleen Delate
SA Training Coordinator
University of Hawaii