PROCLAMATION
Agriculture Month

WHEREAS, March signifies a national celebration of the importance of food and agriculture in the United States as it provides almost everything we eat and use each day. This month we recognize and celebrate the diversity and abundance provided by New York’s farms and our growing food and agricultural sector and the contributions of Allegany County’s family farmers; and

WHEREAS, New York State is home to over 33,000 farms producing some of the world’s best food and beverages, located on or close to about 20 percent of the State’s land areas and 6,900,000 acres of operated farmland; and

WHEREAS, the agricultural industry in New York State contributed more than $5.7 billion in agricultural economy sales to the New York economy each year; and

WHEREAS, with farmland occupying nearly one quarter of New York State’s land area, agriculture also promotes New Yorker’s quality of life in other ways, including providing access to fresh, locally sourced food, preserving open space, and enhancing communities through farmer’s markets and other such activities; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the month of March as Agriculture Month in Allegany County provides the opportunity for all residents in Allegany County and New York to better appreciate agriculture’s breadth and beauty, how food and fiber products are produced, and the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant, and affordable products; and

WHEREAS, commemorating Agriculture month will build awareness of the benefits of the agricultural industry in Allegany County and encourage young people to consider agriculture as a career; and

FURTHERMORE, I urge all New Yorkers to join me in recognizing the importance of our food and agriculture industry, to thank a farmer for providing the food we eat, and to help celebrate every month with meals made from a variety of New York State products;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, W. Brooke Harris, Chairman of the Allegany County Board of Legislators, do hereby proclaim the month of March 2023 as Agriculture Month in Allegany County .

03 08 23 Alleg Co Proclamation Designating March 2023 As Agriculture Month