Richard Ha writes:
Breaking news for Kaua‘i. Here’s an article from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser:
Judge: Kauai genetically modified crop law invalid
By Rosemarie Bernardo
POSTED: 09:39 a.m. HST, Aug 25, 2014
LAST UPDATED: 09:51 a.m. HST, Aug 25, 2014
A federal judge struck down a new law regulating the use of pesticides and growth of genetically modified organisms by large-scale commercial agricultural companies on Kauai.
U.S. MagistrateJudge Barry Kurren decided Ordinance 960 (formerly Bill 2491) is invalid and preempted by state law.
The law required seed companies to disclose the types of pesticides they use and establish buffer zones near dwellings, medical facilities, schools, parks, public roadways, shorelines and waterways.
Hopefully, the judge sees things the same way on Bill 113, the Big Island’s anti-GMO bill. We Big Island farmers brought a similar lawsuit only because we want clarity and fairness. Farmers don’t normally sue anybody. That bill has caused us to spend way too much time in meetings and hearings. We farmers just want to go back to farming.
All farmers need to come together to help achieve food security for future generations. And we must do it in the spirit of aloha.