Assembly Resolution No. 227

BY: M. of A. Byrnes

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 24, 2023, as Women in Agriculture Day in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, The agricultural industry is part of the foundation upon
which our distinct American heritage is built; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 24, 2023, as Women in
Agriculture Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with National
Women in Agriculture Day and National Women's History Month; and

WHEREAS, Hardworking American women farmers provide New York State,
the Nation, and much of the world with a safe, healthy, affordable, and
abundant food supply; currently, there are more than 1,200,000 female
agricultural producers in the United States, making up more than a third
of the agricultural producers in the United States; and

WHEREAS, In 2017, farms operated by women in the United States sold
$148,000,000,000 in agricultural products, accounting for 38 percent of
the total agriculture sales in the United States for that year; and

WHEREAS, Women working in agriculture also make a difference across
the United States in various commodity and industry fields, such as
research and development, manufacturing, sales and distribution,
agricultural education, agribusiness and advocacy, which extends
benefits to individuals across the globe through the international trade
of the United States; and

WHEREAS, In addition, women farmers are vital in fostering the next
generation of the agricultural workforce by promoting STEM and
agricultural education and entrepreneurial and community initiatives and
by serving as mentors for 4-H, FFA, the Cooperative Extension System,
and numerous postsecondary agricultural science educator programs; and

WHEREAS, The celebration of National Women's Agriculture Day is in
recognition of women farmers from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic
backgrounds and walks of life, who feed us and our families every day
and of the importance of agriculture as a vital industry and economic
driver in New York State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 24, 2023, as Women
in Agriculture Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Agriculture Day and Women's History Month,
honoring and recognizing the important contributions of all branches of
farming to the health, economic well-being, environment, beauty, and
future of New York State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York; USDA Farm Services Agency; and NY FarmNet.