HOUSE MEMORIAL 27

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

George Dodge, Jr.

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING SUPPORT FOR AND ENDORSING THE RESILIENCE IN NEW MEXICO AGRICULTURE TASK FORCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR AGRICULTURAL RESILIENCE.

     WHEREAS, the agriculture industry is vital to New Mexico's economy and culture; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico state university's college of agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences and New Mexico first conducted thirteen regional community meetings, gathering input from stakeholders in the agriculture industry regarding the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the future of agriculture in the state; and

     WHEREAS, attendees at the regional meetings found that the agriculture industry faces challenges from: increasing competition for scarce water resources; government regulations and policies inhibiting the success of agricultural operations; an aging farming and ranching population; a need for young and beginning farmers and ranchers to enter the agriculture industry; a lack of in-state agricultural processing facilities; a sometimes negative public perception of the industry; and restrictive federal land management policies and regulations; and

     WHEREAS, agricultural producers do not set commodity prices, but must instead accept prevailing market prices; and

     WHEREAS, many farmers and ranchers struggle to sustain a living from their agricultural operations and must often find other ways to supplement their incomes; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico ranks first in the nation for children living in food-insecure households, with nearly one-third of the state's children lacking access to adequate, nutritious food; and

     WHEREAS, an increased amount of New Mexico's needed food could come from local farmers and ranchers, further benefiting the state's economy, environment and access to nutritious food; and

     WHEREAS, several states have developed statewide agriculture plans to improve food supply and to strengthen farming and ranching industries; and

     WHEREAS, it would be beneficial for New Mexico to develop a statewide agriculture resiliency plan; and

     WHEREAS, the resilience in New Mexico agriculture task force was jointly organized by the New Mexico state university cooperative extension service, New Mexico first and the New Mexico department of agriculture; and

     WHEREAS, the task force organizers have invited members, including farmers; ranchers; agricultural processors and distributors; cooperative extension professionals; tribal members; university faculty; local and regional food policy council members; charitable foundation representatives; water and natural resources experts; and nonprofit organization representatives and staff from appropriate local, state and government agencies;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that support and endorsement be expressed for the resilience in New Mexico agriculture task force in the development of a statewide strategic plan for agricultural resilience; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that support and endorsement be extended for the resilience in New Mexico agriculture task force policies of encouraging agricultural infrastructure development, local food production, agricultural innovation, funding opportunities and educational support for young and beginning farmers and ranchers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to develop a strategic statewide agriculture resiliency plan for future resiliency and job growth in the agricultural sector; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the statewide agriculture resiliency plan include recommendations and funding priorities developed by the task force to implement the statewide plan; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to present a progress report of strategic plan goals by October 1, 2017 to the legislative finance committee and the appropriate interim committees studying economic development and water and natural resources issues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the New Mexico department of agriculture, the president of New Mexico state university, the board chair of New Mexico first, the chair of the legislative finance committee and the members of the resilience in New Mexico agriculture task force. 

- 4 -