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WHEREAS, March 22, 2017, is designated as California Agriculture Day, a day of celebration to commemorate agricultures importance in our daily lives, its vital role in keeping Californians nourished, and its role in keeping the states economy ranked as the sixth largest in the world; and

WHEREAS, The 2017 theme of California Agriculture Day is CA Grown: Ag Proud! in recognition of the diversity and significance of California agriculture; and

WHEREAS, For more than 60 consecutive years, California has been the number one agricultural state in the nation, producing more than 400 crop and livestock products and accounting for approximately 50 percent of the nations supply of fruits, vegetables, and nuts; and

WHEREAS, California leads the nation in organic production with 2,805 farms on over 680,000 acres producing organic agricultural commodities worth $2.2 billion in 2014; and

WHEREAS, The inexhaustible efforts of millions of farmworkers have contributed greatly to the success of the industry; and

WHEREAS, Over 90 percent of farmworkers in California are Latino and the overwhelming majority are immigrants, whose labor contributes to the success of the states agricultural industries; and

WHEREAS, Californias agricultural community relies on vital infrastructure that aids in the exclusion and early detection of plant and animal pests and diseases that impact public health, the environment, and commerce; and

WHEREAS, With less than 1 percent of Californias population engaged in farming and agriculture, each agricultural worker today provides for more than 100 other people, compared to just 13 in 1947; and

WHEREAS, Todays agricultural industry offers over 300 challenging and rewarding career opportunities, from on-farm cultivation to food science and engineering; and

WHEREAS, Over the past seven decades, advances in agricultural production have resulted in a drop in consumer spending on food products from 22 percent of average household disposable income in 1949 to 10 percent today; and

WHEREAS, California is the nations leader in agricultural exports, shipping more than $20 billion of food and agricultural commodities around the world in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Californias agricultural industry constantly seeks to incorporate the latest scientific and technological production and marketing techniques to meet the demands of changing consumer needs and complex world markets; and

WHEREAS, Public-private partnerships are continually being developed to improve quality and ensure safe handling practices on the farm, in transit, and during processing; and

WHEREAS, California consumers say that it is important to them to purchase foods grown in California and California consumers have increased support of certified farmers markets, community supported agricultural programs, and farm-to-school programs; and

WHEREAS, A broad approach to agricultural education is vital to ensure that California agriculture continues to flourish; and

WHEREAS, California is estimated to lose 500,000 acres of agricultural land by 2050 and more than 300,000 acres of it will have been highly productive irrigated cropland, and thus California should continue to work for conservation to preserve Californias agricultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate for all Californians to recognize our farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and others involved in providing such a bounty to our nation and the entire world; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate recognizes and honors the men and women of California agriculture for their dedication and productivity by observing March 21, 2017, as National Agriculture Day, and designating Wednesday, March 22, 2017, as California Agriculture Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.