H.C.R. No. 211

	HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, For 100 years, scientists at the Blackland Research
	and Extension Center have worked to ensure a safe and affordable
	food supply, protect the environment, and invigorate the economy;
	and
	WHEREAS, The Blackland Experiment Station, Substation No. 5,
	was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1909 to conduct research
	on cotton root rot and a variety of other soil and crop problems;
	the Research and Extension Center today occupies a 542-acre site in
	the south-central part of the Blackland Prairie region, on the
	southeastern edge of Temple; it is one of 13 off-campus stations
	affiliated with The Texas A&M University System as part of Texas
	AgriLife Research, the state's premier research agency in
	agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences; and
	WHEREAS, In 1931, the Blackland Research and Extension Center
	began soil and water research in cooperation with the USDA Soil
	Conservation Service; its early projects also included hybrid corn
	breeding and research in cattle grazing and feeding; in recent
	years, researchers have used weather data collected over many
	decades to develop important guidelines for conservation and
	improved crop performance, and studies of mechanization for major
	crops, especially cotton, have provided information of great value
	to farmers and agricultural agencies; and
	WHEREAS, The Blackland Research and Extension Center shares
	research facilities with the Grassland, Soil, and Water Research
	Laboratory of the USDA/Agricultural Research Service, and their
	scientists have cooperated closely for more than 80 years;
	Blackland Research and Extension Center researchers also
	collaborate extensively with their counterparts from the Natural
	Resources Conservation Service and the Environmental Protection
	Agency; the large national Conservation Effects Assessment Program
	to quantify the environmental benefits of USDA conservation efforts
	is among the key projects made possible by these relationships; and
	WHEREAS, Responding to the needs of Texas residents, the
	center is currently undertaking research related to healthy rivers
	and streams, rangeland drought monitoring and management,
	agriculture and natural resource risk management, and other crucial
	issues; over the past century, the distinguished scientists and
	dedicated staff of the Blackland Research and Extension Center have
	been instrumental in improving land, water, and soil resources in
	Central Texas, and they continue to enhance our knowledge of
	agriculture and the environment while developing new technologies
	that benefit countless people in our region and elsewhere; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
	hereby congratulate all those associated with the Blackland
	Research and Extension Center on the occasion of its 100th
	anniversary and extend to them best wishes for continued success in
	their noteworthy endeavors; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for the Blackland Research and Extension Center as an
	expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and
	Senate.
	Sheffield
	Straus Gattis Menendez
	Allen Geren Merritt
	Alonzo Giddings Miklos
	Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
	Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
	Anderson Guillen Moody
	Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
	Berman Hamilton Naishtat
	Bohac Hancock Oliveira
	Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
	Bonnen Harless Orr
	Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
	Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
	Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
	Burnam Hernandez Patrick
	Button Herrero Paxton
	Callegari Hilderbran Pena
	Castro Hochberg Phillips
	Chavez Hodge Pickett
	Chisum Homer Pierson
	Christian Hopson Pitts
	Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
	Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
	Cook Hughes Riddle
	Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
	Crabb Isett Ritter
	Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
	Creighton Jones Rose
	Crownover Keffer Sheffield
	Darby Kent Shelton
	Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
	Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
	Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
	Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
	Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
	Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
	Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
	Edwards Legler Thibaut
	Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
	Eissler Lewis Truitt
	Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
	England Madden Turner of Harris
	Farabee Maldonado Vaught
	Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
	Farrar Marquez Villarreal
	Fletcher Martinez Vo
	Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
	Flynn McCall Weber
	Frost McClendon Woolley
	Gallego McReynolds Zerwas
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.C.R. No. 211 was adopted by the House on May
	12, 2009, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.C.R. No. 211 was adopted by the Senate on May
	12, 2009, by a viva-voce vote.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor