1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 751 1-3 WHEREAS, The Texas Senate is proud to recognize April 27, 1999, 1-4 as Texas Corn Day at the State Capitol; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Indigenous to this hemisphere, corn was first 1-6 cultivated in the form of maize by Native Americans throughout the 1-7 Americas; these people recognized the diversity of the crop more 1-8 than 7,000 years ago, consuming it as a fresh vegetable, flour, and 1-9 popcorn, and it became so central to their way of life that Mayans 1-10 believed the gods had created them out of maize; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Early western explorers described this remarkable 1-12 plant as the "staple crop of the Americas" because of its 1-13 adaptability, durability, and diversity; many of America's first 1-14 settlers credited the gift of corn for their survival during their 1-15 initial winter in the New World; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Corn also played a significant role in early Texas 1-17 history, as Spanish missionaries and Anglo-American colonists 1-18 greatly relied on it as a vegetable, as well as for flour, oil, 1-19 and feed-grain for their cattle; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Today corn has become America's leading cash crop, 1-21 with more than half a million farmers harvesting 85 million acres 1-22 of farmland and producing 9.5 billion bushels of corn; each year 1-23 Texas farmers generate 248 million bushels and harvest 2.1 million 1-24 acres of crop land; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Much of this corn is exported to markets around the 2-2 world, including Japan, Taiwan, China, Africa, Mexico, Russia, and 2-3 Europe; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Corn is truly a versatile crop with more than 1,000 2-5 uses; in addition to its role as feed-grain to Texas' six 2-6 million cattle and two million hogs, it is a renewable resource 2-7 for food, fiber, textiles, and ethanol fuel and is the primary 2-8 ingredient in a host of products, such as colas and other beverages, 2-9 building materials, chemicals, fuel, paper, adhesives, and clothing; 2-10 and 2-11 WHEREAS, Through its diversity, corn has become one of 2-12 America's most essential crops, and it is indeed appropriate to 2-13 pay tribute to corn and Texas corn producers at this time; now, 2-14 therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-16 76th Legislature, hereby recognize April 27, 1999, as Texas Corn 2-17 Day and extend to all those associated with this occasion sincere 2-18 best wishes for an enjoyable day and a profitable harvest. 2-19 Duncan, Haywood 2-20 ______________________________________ 2-21 President of the Senate 2-22 I hereby certify that the above 2-23 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-24 on April 27, 1999. 2-25 ______________________________________ 2-26 Secretary of the Senate 2-27 ______________________________________ 2-28 Member, Texas Senate 2-29 ______________________________________ 2-30 Member, Texas Senate