HI SR87

Requests the Department of Agriculture to suggest definitions for small farms, large farms, and bona fide farmer to provide Hawaii-specific clarity for legislation.

Proposes small farms be defined as operations where ownership has direct management of daily operations, personal invested capital, and works on the farm or substantially equivalent definition.

Proposes large farms be defined as operations where ownership has hired management for daily operations, no personal invested capital, and does not work on the farm or substantially equivalent definition.

Directs the Department of Agriculture to ensure proposed definitions comply with United States Department of Agriculture definitions and report recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2016 Regular Session convening.

Notes that 92 percent of Hawaii farms are classified as small farms under USDA standards, and neither the Department of Agriculture nor Agribusiness Development Corporation currently have clear definitions.