BILL ANALYSIS Ó ACR 147 Page 1 Date of Hearing: March 8, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES Gordon, Chair ACR 147 (Dodd) - As Introduced February 29, 2016 SUBJECT: California Agriculture Day SUMMARY: Recognizes and honors men and women of California agriculture for their dedication and productivity by observing March 15, 2016, as National Agriculture day, and designating March 16, 2016, as California Agriculture Day. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings: 1)March 16, 2016, is designated as California Agriculture Day, a day of celebration to commemorate agriculture's importance in our daily lives, its vital role in keeping Californians nourished, and its role in keeping the state's economy ranked as the eighth largest in the world. 2)For more than 60 years, California has been the number one agricultural state in the nation, producing more than 400 crop and livestock products and accounting for approximately 50 percent of the nation's supply of fruits, vegetable, and nuts. 3)Today's agricultural industry offers over 300 challenging and rewarding career opportunities, from on-farm cultivation to food science and engineering. ACR 147 Page 2 4)California is the nation's leader in agricultural exports, shipping more than $21 billion of food and agricultural commodities around the world in 2014. 5)Public-private partnerships are continually being developed to improve quality and ensure safe handling practices on the farm, in transit, and during processing. 6)California consumers say that it is important to them to purchase foods grown in California and consumers say that "California grown" is more important to them today than in years past. In the last decade, California consumers have increased support of certified farmers' markets, community supported agricultural programs, and farm-to-school programs. 7)California is estimated to lose 500,000 acres of agricultural land by 2050, more than 300,000 acres of which have been highly productive irrigate cropland. California should continue to work for conservation to preserve California's agricultural heritage. FISCAL EFFECT: None REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION: Support None on file Opposition None on file ACR 147 Page 3 Analysis Prepared by:Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800