HR0242 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0242 LRB095 11697 CMK 34160 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois' 72,000 farms utilize more than 27,000,000 acres or about 77% of the land area of the State; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 90% of agricultural land in Illinois could be used to grow crops; and

WHEREAS, Illinois generally ranks second in the nation in both corn and soybean production and fourth in hog production; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' food and fiber industry employs nearly 1,500,000 workers, ranking it as one of the top states in dependency on agriculture; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is a leading state in agricultural related industries, such as soybean processing, meat packing, dairy manufacturing, feed milling, machinery manufacturing, foreign exports, service industries and ethanol production; and

WHEREAS, Illinois farms produce approximately 17% of the nation's soybeans, 17% of the nation's corn, and 7% of the nation's pigs; and

WHEREAS, Illinois farms account for nearly 6% of the nation's agricultural exports; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to recognize Illinois' farmers and those individuals involved in agricultural related industries that provide our bountiful food supply and economic activity for our citizens and others throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, March 21, 2007 is National Agriculture Day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we proclaim March 21, 2007 as Illinois Agriculture Day throughout the State of Illinois in honor of the hard working men and women of Illinois farms and to promote a better understanding of the Illinois agricultural industry and its role in the State's economy.