SR0499

LRB093 21713 RAS 49491 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, Agriculture and agriculture-related industries 
3
account for one-fourth of the total economy of the State; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, Soybean production in the State is ranked number 1 
5
in the nation and corn production in the State is ranked number 
6
2 in the nation; and

 
7
    WHEREAS, The promotion of continued and expanded use of 
8
Illinois grown corn and soybean based products is in the best 
9
interest of Illinois' rural economy; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, Illinois based livestock producers are major 
11
purchasers of corn and soybean based products and by-products; 
12
and

 
13
    WHEREAS, The Illinois-based livestock industry has 
14
experienced severely diminishing numbers of local producers 
15
and operations of nearly 25% for beef and dairy cattle and 50% 
16
for pork in just the last decade; and

 
17
    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly has determined that 
18
continued reductions of value-added State based products and 
19
the ultimate loss of these consumer goods is detrimental and 
20
contrary to its efforts to improve the economic viability of 
21
rural Illinois; therefore, be it

 
22
    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL 
23
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department 
24
of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce and Economic 
25
Opportunity, the Department of Natural Resources, and the 
26
Environmental Protection Agency to form a working group with 
27
the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Grower's 
28
Association, the Illinois Soybean Association, the Illinois 
29
Pork Producers Association, and the Illinois Beef Association 
 


 






SR0499
- 2 -
LRB093 21713 RAS 49491 r




1
to study cause and effect issues surrounding these reductions 
2
in the number of local producers and local operations and the 
3
continued reductions and ultimate loss of value-added State 
4
based products; and be it further

 
5
    RESOLVED, That this working group be under the coordination 
6
of the Director of Agriculture who shall report findings, along 
7
with legislative recommendations, to the Governor, the 
8
President of the Illinois Senate, and the Speaker of the 
9
Illinois House of Representatives on or before December 31, 
10
2004; and be it further

 
11
    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to  
12
the Directors of the Department of Agriculture, the Department 
13
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Natural 
14
Resources, and the Environmental Protection Agency and the 
15
heads of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Grower's 
16
Association, the Illinois Soybean Association, the Illinois 
17
Pork Producers Association, and the Illinois Beef Association.