SR0499 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0499 LRB093 21713 RAS 49491 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Environmental Protection Agency to form a working group with the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Grower's Association, the Illinois Soybean Association, the Illinois Pork Producers Association, and the Illinois Beef Association to study cause and effect issues surrounding these reductions in the number of local producers and local operations and the continued reductions and ultimate loss of value-added State based products; and be it further

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

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