SF 1218

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