[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1075 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 1075

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        March 21, 2010.
Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard began as a 
        pilot program started in Missouri, and the Missouri National Guard 
        worked with the Missouri Farm Bureau and the University of Missouri to 
        draw a blueprint that could be followed by other Army National Guard 
        units;
Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams consist of National Guard members 
        who have a civilian background in farming or a related agricultural 
        business;
Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams now consist of units from 11 States;
Whereas before deploying overseas, members of an Agri-business Development Team 
        collaborate with land-grant universities, which spend weeks teaching and 
        preparing strategies for the farms to which the Agri-business 
        Development Team will deploy;
Whereas in Afghanistan, the goals of the Agri-business Development Teams include 
        improving irrigation systems and providing sustainable methods for 
        fertilizing, planting, harvesting, marketing, and storing agricultural 
        crops, modernizing slaughter facilities, setting up markets to trade 
        crops and livestock, developing a juicing and canning facility, and 
        improving livestock health through mobile vet clinics, all of which can 
        help divert cropland from poppy production;
Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams also are partnering with the 
        Department of Agriculture to have a directory of 50-60 experts in a 
        variety of agricultural areas in Afghanistan; and
Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams have been quick to use alternative 
        energy sources, such as wind, solar, and small water dams, which in the 
        absence of a national energy grid in Afghanistan are more reliable and 
        easier to protect from enemy attack: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends the members of the 
Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard and the National Guard 
Bureau for their efforts, together with personnel of the Department of 
Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development, to 
modernize agriculture practices and increase food production in war-torn 
countries.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.