MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Hudson, Browning, Burton, Butler (38th), Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Fillingane, Gandy, Kirby, Lee, Montgomery, Moran, Ward
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING THE MISSISSIPPI POULTRY ASSOCIATION ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY.
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Poultry Association was formed in 1937 as the Mississippi Poultry Improvement Association to help battle poultry diseases and promote the development of the industry; and
WHEREAS, poultry is Mississippi's largest agricultural commodity. The poultry industry today has more than a $6 Billion impact on the state's economy, and has 28,000 employees, resulting in another 27,000 jobs, with 20 processing facilities and 2,000 growers; and
WHEREAS, the industry locations in Mississippi include growers, feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants, laboratories and company headquarters; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi ranks fifth in the nation in poultry production; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi's Third Congressional District leads the nation in poultry production among all districts and leads the nation in poultry and egg production; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi's companies process 757 million birds per year (250 times the human population of the state) and 400 million table eggs per year. More than $2.4 Billion was paid to farmers in 2011. Wages and salaries of the industry totaled more than $2.1 Billion. The industry has grown from small, family owned businesses and farms into an integrated global industry with about 12% of broiler production exported worldwide; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Poultry Association helped initiate the Emerging Crops Loan program passed by the Legislature that has made it easier for many more farmers to enter the poultry industry. The Mississippi Poultry Association works closely with Mississippi State University, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, the Board of Animal Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in supporting the poultry industry; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi poultry companies donate thousands of pounds of their products annually to fight hunger and to aid and develop their communities, and it is with great pride that we honor the civic and economic contributions of this Mississippi agribusiness association:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and salute the Mississippi Poultry Association on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary and extend our best wishes to its Board of Directors on this auspicious event.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Poultry Association, forwarded to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.