SF 1218

2nd Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                        A memorial resolution 
  1.2             asking the residents of Minnesota for tolerance of 
  1.3             different views on animal agriculture production 
  1.4             practices; making 2005 the year the Minnesota feedlot 
  1.5             war ended, and the mark of the beginning of a new era 
  1.6             for Minnesota livestock farmers characterized by 
  1.7             peace, love, harmony, and acceptance of diversity. 
  1.8      WHEREAS, Minnesota has a diverse livestock production 
  1.9   system; and 
  1.10     WHEREAS, Minnesota livestock farmers and related 
  1.11  agricultural processing benefits the state's economy by 
  1.12  employing over 200,000 people and generating over 
  1.13  $28,000,000,000 in economic value to the state; and 
  1.14     WHEREAS, the "Minnesota feedlot wars" started around 1985 
  1.15  and have continued for approximately 20 years; and 
  1.16     WHEREAS, some have expended time, energy, and resources 
  1.17  during the last 20 years that has been channeled into 
  1.18  criticizing and tearing down someone else's preferred method of 
  1.19  livestock production; and 
  1.20     WHEREAS, Minnesota has many opportunities for residents to 
  1.21  learn about the economic and environmental benefits of livestock 
  1.22  produced on a broad range of diverse systems, ranging from 
  1.23  pasture to confinement; and 
  1.24     WHEREAS, high livestock and human populations peacefully 
  1.25  coexist in close proximity to each other in much of the world, 
  1.26  such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, and 
  2.1   Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  2.2      BE IT RESOLVED, that 2005 be known as the year that the 
  2.3   Minnesota feedlot wars ended and that 2005 marks the beginning 
  2.4   of a new era that is characterized by peace, harmony, love, and 
  2.5   acceptance of diversity with regard to livestock farmers in 
  2.6   Minnesota. 
  2.7      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, all Minnesotans should adopt a 
  2.8   respectful, encouraging, and appreciative attitude toward 
  2.9   Minnesota livestock farmers. 
  2.10     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, livestock farmers should renew and 
  2.11  intensify their efforts to be good neighbors and good stewards 
  2.12  of our environment by carefully following all federal, state, 
  2.13  and local regulations. 
  2.14     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, rural residents should renew and 
  2.15  intensify their efforts to be good neighbors, and accept, 
  2.16  encourage, and support the livestock farmers in their area. 
  2.17     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that time, energy, and resources 
  2.18  could be more productively channeled into promoting a person's 
  2.19  preferred method of livestock production rather than directed 
  2.20  toward criticizing another person's preferred method of 
  2.21  livestock production.