J 551: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 24, 2025, as Women in Agriculture Day in the State of New York

 Senate Resolution No. 551 BY: Senator HELMING MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 24, 2025, 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, 2025, 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 2022, farms operated by women in the United States sold $222,000,000,000 in agricultural products, accounting for 36 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, 2025, as Women in Agriculture Day in the State of New York, 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.