78R8677 MDM-F

By:  Hardcastle                                                   H.R. No. 500



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the houses in 
which we live, and the flowers and plants we enjoy all stem from 
agriculture, and the important role that Texas farmers and ranchers 
play in the lives of people worldwide often goes unrecognized; and
	WHEREAS, In this new millennium, Texas farmers and ranchers 
and their families face ever-increasing challenges, yet they 
continue to fulfill an enduring legacy, ensuring that people 
everywhere have an abundant, reliable, and affordable supply of 
food, natural fiber, and horticultural and other agricultural 
products; and
	WHEREAS, Agriculture is the second-largest industry in 
Texas, generating $14 billion annually for the economy and 
providing employment for one out of every five Texans; and
	WHEREAS, Texas leads other states in the production of 
cotton, cattle, sheep, goats, wool, mohair, and hay and exports 
approximately $2.5 billion in agricultural products; and
	WHEREAS, Texas farmers and ranchers grow and produce many of 
the products used daily by all Texans, including fruits and 
vegetables; beef, pork, and poultry products; cotton, wool, and 
mohair for clothing; trees used in making paper; milk for cheese, 
ice cream, and other dairy products; corn for cereal, breads, and 
laundry detergent; and animal fats and proteins for toothpaste and 
crayons; and
	WHEREAS, Agriculture also plays a major role in water 
conservation, rural economic development, global trade, and the 
preservation of the environment; and
	WHEREAS, Agriculture will continue to meet the basic needs of 
the world while providing opportunities for progress beyond food 
and clothing, including advancements in nutrition, medicine, 
biotechnology, and food safety; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize March 16-22, 2003, as National 
Agriculture Week in Texas and urge all Texans to recognize those 
producers who help add quality to our lives and to the State of 
Texas.