SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1999-8630

By Senators Rasmussen, Honeyford, Morton, Stevens, Sheahan and Fraser

     WHEREAS, Livestock growers in the state of Washington produce and manage  approximately 1.3 million head of cattle and calves annually; and

     WHEREAS, Approximately 9,000 farmers and ranchers in Washington are employed as beef producers; and

     WHEREAS, The value of this agricultural commodity in Washington State totals over $465 million; and

     WHEREAS, The farm gate and value added output of the livestock industry in total amounts to over $1.6 billion, clearly establishing it as a significant factor to the health of the Washington State economy; and

     WHEREAS, Americans support this industry by eating, pound for pound, more beef than any other meat;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the women and men of the cattle industry are hereby recognized by the Washington State Senate as vital contributors to the economic vitality of our state and our communities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate formally commend the hard work and industriousness of those men and women who raise cattle and promote a stable economic future in Washington State.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1999-8630,

adopted by the Senate March 5, 1999.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate