HR0004 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0004 LRB100 04109 MST 14114 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Corn is a vital part of the Illinois economy and should be recognized by becoming the State grain of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is the second largest corn producing state; and

WHEREAS, Corn takes up over 12 million acres of the 27 million acres of farmland; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has roughly 36.5 million acres of land; meaning a third of all the land in the State is dedicated to corn; and

WHEREAS, According to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in 2014, Illinois produced more than 130 billion pounds of corn; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is the second largest exporter of corn, exporting over 50% of all corn it produces; and

WHEREAS, Illinois alone produces 17% of all corn grown in the United States; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, Illinois farmers made over $10 billion in corn sales; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge corn to be declared the State grain of Illinois and recognize all the wealth and prosperity this crop brings to the State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the members of the Pittsfield Future Farmers of America and the local agricultural education community for taking the initiative in bringing this issue to the Illinois General Assembly; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Pittsfield Future Farmers of America as a symbol of our esteem and respect.