HI HR86

Coffee leaf rust, discovered in Hawaii in 2020, has spread to all Hawaiian islands and threatens the viability of the state's coffee industry.

Act 105 (2014) established a pesticide subsidy program implemented in 2016 to help coffee growers offset costs of purchasing pesticides and fungicides to control coffee leaf rust.

The existing pesticide subsidy program does not cover fertilizer costs, which the Kona Coffee Farmers Association notes are equal to fungicide costs for maintaining coffee tree health.

Healthy coffee trees with proper fertilization reduce reliance on expensive pesticides and fungicides, which present health and storage risks.

The House urges the Department of Agriculture to assist coffee farmers in purchasing organic fertilizer as a disease prevention strategy against coffee leaf rust.