Hawai'i beef, pork and egg production fell in July from the same month a year earlier, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Beef production took the biggest hit, with the cattle slaughter falling 19 percent to 3,900 head from 4,800 head in July 2008. A 26 percent drop in exports more than offset an 11 percent increase in the local slaughter.

Local farms produced 6 million eggs in July, down 5 percent from the same month a year earlier. There was a 2 percent decline in the number of hens laying eggs, and the rate of egg laying fell 3 percent.

Pork production totaled 237,000 pounds in July, down 2 percent from the previous year. The number of hogs slaughtered was unchanged at 1,500, but the average weight per animal fell 3 percent to 215 pounds.

AARP OFFERS HEALTH CARE REFORM BRIEFING

AARP scheduled a health care reform briefing Friday at the state Capitol Auditorium from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Greg Wang, AARP's senior legislative representative for congressional relations, will be the featured speaker. The meeting is open to the public, but people must register to attend by calling toll free at 877-926-8300.

AARP said it has not endorsed any of the health care reform bills but is advocating for reforms that protect Medicare, end age discrimination for health insurance, preserve choices and eliminate waste while providing consumer protection.

ROBERTS HAWAII, LOVE'S SETTLE WITH EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency settled with Roberts Hawaii and Love's Bakery Inc. for failing to submit complete annual chemical inventories.

In addition to correcting the violations, Roberts Hawaii, will pay three $2,000 penalties for its Hawai'i facilities in Honolulu, Kailua and Kea'au. Love's Bakery will pay a $2,000 penalty and will also correct the violation.

Both companies failed to submit annual chemical inventory information to local emergency planners as required by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, said Daniel Meer, the EPA's assistant Superfund director for the Pacific Southwest region.

The regulations require a company that stores a "hazardous chemical or an extremely hazardous substance at levels above reportable quantities" to submit yearly a listing of the chemicals. For Roberts Hawaii the substance was diesel, and for Love's Bakery it was propane.