HR 106 (LSB 6044HH (2) 86)

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 106

BY  HEIN, H. MILLER, PAUSTIAN, BEARINGER, BEST, BYRNES, COWNIE, DEYOE, GRASSLEY, HOLZ, KLEIN, MAXWELL, MOMMSEN, B. MOORE, OURTH, STUTSMAN, WILLS, and WORTHAN

A Resolution recognizing National Agriculture Day.

   WHEREAS, Iowa has 88,500 farms and 129,644 farm operators with more than 97 percent of Iowa farms owned by families; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa agriculture accounted for nearly $30 billion in direct sales in recent years; and
   WHEREAS, according to a report issued in May 2015 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa again ranks 1st in the nation in corn for grain production, hog and pig inventory and commercial hog slaughter, and egg production; and
   WHEREAS, according to the USDA report, Iowa ranks 2nd in soybean production and red meat production, 6th in the number of certified organic farms, 7th in all cattle and calves inventory, 8th in cheese production and number of turkeys raised, and 10th in all sheep and lambs inventory and wool production; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa ranks 2nd nationally in the number of farmers markets per capita; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa is the nation’s top ethanol producer with 42 ethanol refineries with the capacity to produce nearly 3.8 billion gallons annually and 1st in biodiesel production, with 13 biodiesel facilities and the capacity to produce 320 million gallons annually; and
   WHEREAS, March 15, 2016, is National Agriculture Day, dedicated to increasing the public awareness of agriculture’s vital role in our society and recognizing this nation’s unique role in producing food and fiber for a growing world population; and
   WHEREAS, National Agriculture Day, first celebrated in 1973, is a day set aside when producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies, and countless others across this nation gather to recognize and celebrate the abundance of food and fiber produced by American agriculture; and
   WHEREAS, National Agriculture Day is an opportunity to encourage persons to understand how food, fuel, fiber, and pharmaceuticals are produced, to appreciate the function of farmers and ranchers in producing abundant and affordable supplies of food, fuel, fiber, and pharmaceuticals, to acknowledge the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a vibrant economy, and to allow the next generation to consider career opportunities in agriculture; and
   WHEREAS, this year’s theme for National Agriculture Day is “Agriculture: Stewards of a Healthy Planet”; and
   WHEREAS, National Agriculture Day is associated with a national essay contest and a number of events, including events conducted on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., including at the Senate Hart Office Building; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives recognizes March 15, 2016, as National Agriculture Day, and encourages all Iowans as residents of one of the leading agricultural states in the nation, to commemorate and celebrate that day and the invaluable contributions made by Iowa’s farmers; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Agriculture Council of America.