[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 29 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E358]]
HONORING OUR NATION'S FARMERS AND CELEBRATING NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DOUG OSE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 2002

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, next week, March 17, 2002, we celebrate 
National Agriculture Week. From the apple orchards of upstate New York 
and cattle ranches of Texas, to the farm belt of the Midwest and rice 
fields of California, we are a nation built by farmers and ranchers. We 
take this week to honor those who produce our food and fiber, and to 
call attention to what needs to be done to protect our agricultural 
heritage, our way of life and our safe and plentiful food supply. It is 
the strength of this agricultural community that has made the United 
States the ``bread basket of the world.''
  My home of California is our nation's most productive agricultural 
producers, producing more than $27 billion worth of product each year. 
The people of our state and nation benefit from this agricultural 
bounty every day in affordable, high-quality food, fiber, flowers and 
forest products.
  Farmers are good stewards of the land and take pride in their work to 
protect the environment. Farmers and ranchers care for the land in many 
ways--from sustainable forestry practices to sound and safe pest 
management programs and grazing programs.
  Farmers are also good conservationists, and have written the book on 
doing more with less. In the last 30 years, agriculture's share of 
water has remained constant, but farmers and ranchers have boosted 
production on a tonnage basis an impressive 67 percent during the same 
period. Farmers provide habitat for many species of wildlife, including 
the waterfowl of the Pacific Flyway. Many farmers are working towards 
better and more environmentally friendly methods of pest control--such 
as box homes for bats and barn owls, or pest resistant plants and 
bacteria that combat pests while reducing the reliance on pesticides.
  In addition to their environmental benefits, farmers, ranchers, 
vintners and other members of the agricultural community are an 
important part of California's economy. A University of California 
study recently found that farmers generate about $59 billion in 
personal income for Californians or 6.6 percent of the stat's annual 
personal income. California agriculture also contributes 1.1 million 
jobs to the state, about 7 percent of the total workforce.
  It is my great honor and pleasure to represent many of the men and 
women of California Agriculture in this House. Please join me next week 
in recognizing their contributions and thanking them for all they do to 
make this great nation what it is today.

                          ____________________