SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1997-8643

By Senators Morton and Rasmussen

     WHEREAS, Washington state farmers produce $5.8 billion worth of agricultural products; and

     WHEREAS, Food processing is a $7.7 billion industry and is the state's second largest manufacturing industry in value and number of employees; and

     WHEREAS, More than 190,000 Washington residents are employed in direct, agriculture-related jobs; and

     WHEREAS, Almost 91 percent of the value of agricultural products sold are produced by 22 percent of the state's farms; and

     WHEREAS, About 25 percent of the state's agricultural commodities are sold in Washington, about 50 percent are sold in U.S. domestic markets, and about 25 percent in international markets; and

     WHEREAS, There are an estimated 36,000 farms in Washington covering 16 million acres and producing over 100 different commodities; and

     WHEREAS, Washington State ranks first in the production of 14 major commodities and 12th among all states in total agricultural output; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Gary Locke has proclaimed March 19, as Agriculture Business Day;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognizes and honors the men and women who have made agriculture the number one industry in this state and we applaud the agri-business community for their efforts to ensure that agriculture maintains its leading role in our state and nation's economy.

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1997-8643,

adopted by the Senate March 19, 1997.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate