H RES 1075

HRES 1075 IH

Commending the members of the Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard for their efforts, together with personnel of the Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development, to modernize agriculture practices and increase food production in war-torn countries.

February 4, 2010

Mr. LUETKEMEYER (for himself, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GRAVES, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. AKIN, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CARNAHAN, Ms. JENKINS, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. MASSA, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. PENCE, Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. WOLF, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. KISSELL, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. SMITH of Washington, and Ms. FALLIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

Commending the members of the Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard for their efforts, together with personnel of the Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development, to modernize agriculture practices and increase food production in war-torn countries.

Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard began as a pilot program started in Missouri, and the Missouri National Guard worked with the Missouri Farm Bureau and the University of Missouri to draw a blueprint that could be followed by other Army National Guard units;

Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams consist of National Guard members who have a civilian background in farming or a related agricultural business;

Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams now consist of units from 11 different States, which receive resources and guidance from the Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development;

Whereas before deploying overseas, members of an Agri-business Development Team collaborate with land-grant universities, which spend weeks teaching and preparing strategies for the farms to which the Agri-business Development Team will deploy;

Whereas in Afghanistan, the goals of the Agri-business Development Teams include improving irrigation systems and providing sustainable methods for fertilizing, planting, harvesting, marketing, and storing agricultural crops, modernizing a slaughter facility, setting up markets to trade crop and livestock, developing a juicing and canning facility, and improving livestock health through mobile vet clinics, all of which can help divert cropland from poppy production;

Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams also are partnering with the Department of Agriculture to have a directory of 50-60 experts in a variety of agricultural areas in Afghanistan; and

Whereas the Agri-business Development Teams have been quick to use alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, and small water dams, which in the absence of a national energy grid in Afghanistan are more reliable and easier to protect from enemy attack: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends the members of the Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard for their efforts, together with personnel of the Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development, to modernize agriculture practices and increase food production in war-torn countries.