Hawaii farms and ranches come in all sizes. However, the majority of them are small family farms.

Farmers care deeply about their families, their neighbors and their communities. Their keiki attend the same schools as anyone else’s, shop at the same stores and attend the same churches.

Yes, the majority of farmers use pesticides; but before regulatory agencies allow them to be used, these products undergo extensive scientific study to ensure they will be used safely around people and in the environment.

Without the use of modern agricultural tools such as pesticides, our current way of life would not exist. The resulting higher crop yields allow a mere 2 percent of Americans to feed the rest of us.

Pesticides also keep bedbugs out of hotel rooms, invasive species out of watersheds and dangerous pathogens out of drinking water.

They’re in household products such as bleach, mosquito coils, bathroom cleaners and products used to control fleas and ticks on pets.

If the little fire ant were to spread to your neighborhood, wouldn’t you use pesticides to keep your children and pets from suffering the ants’ painful stings?

Several measures introduced this legislative session have unfairly targeted farmers. Among other things, they propose to arbitrarily establish zones where farmers would not be able to protect their crops from bugs, weeds and diseases, taking valuable farm land out of production and making farms less viable, especially small farms.

Various claims have been made, but are not supported by facts; legislative action is not warranted.

Farmers realize the importance of protecting schools and other non-crop areas from the pesticides they use. A 2015 state Department of Agriculture (HDOA) review of the last nine years confirms that no schools in Hawaii were affected by crop farmers’ use of pesticides.

The Hawaii Department of Health recently conducted statewide surface water sampling for 136 pesticides. Some may find it surprising that samples from urban areas on Oahu showed the highest number of different pesticides. Only one pesticide, a product once used to kill termites in buildings, exceeded regulatory limits.

In nearly every case, when pesticides were detected, they were in minute concentrations well below limits set to protect human health and the environment.

The Hawaii Tumor Registry recently evaluated the incidence of cancer on Kauai and found no higher incidence there compared to the rest of the state.

The University of Hawaii recently conducted air studies at schools on Kauai. Several pesticides were detected, but at levels far below health concern exposure limits. Also found were naturally occurring toxic chemicals that can cause throat irritation, tearing, and dizziness, emanating from stinkweed.

We support funding for HDOA to hire additional personnel, increase pesticide education and training, and bolster the ability of HDOA to expand its regulatory capabilities.

HDOA and Kauai County are currently funding a community-based fact-finding initiative that will examine any possible health and environmental impacts associated with the agricultural use of pesticides.

It is reasonable to wait for the recommendations from that study before enacting new laws that could threaten the viability of Hawaii’s farms.

Hawaii’s farmers and ranchers respectfully urge that people recognize and appreciate the needs of farmers and take the time to listen to their concerns.

Legislators such as state Rep. Clift Tsuji have listened carefully to all of the testimony.They’ve had to make difficult decisions.

We all want agriculture as a strong part of Hawaii’s future. However, we certainly won’t sacrifice our keiki’s health for that goal.

As the legislative session continues, farmers ask the public to support them, and help our legislators make logical and fair decisions.

Randy Cabral submitted this commentary on behalf of the following organizations: Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, Hawaii Coffee Association, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association and the Hawaii Papaya Association.