SR-101,MICHIGAN As Adopted by Senate, March 17, 2026 SENATE RESOLUTIONSenate NO.Resolution No.
101 Offered by Senators Victory, Nesbitt, Theis, Daley, McBroom, Damoose, Webber, Hauck, Hoitenga, Lindsey, Albert, Outman, Johnson, Bellino, Bumstead, Huizenga and McMorrow offeredA RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE MARCH 2026 AS AGRICULTURE APPRECIATION MONTH WHEREAS, Every March, states nationwide come together to celebrate the followingvital resolution:role of food and agriculture in driving the national economy;
Aand resolutionWHEREAS, The Michigan food and agriculture industry contributes more than $125.8 billion annually to designatethe Marchstate’s 2026economy asand Agricultureis Appreciationa Month.major source of employment for our workforce, supporting approximately 805,000 jobs, which is roughly 17.2 percent of the state’s workforce;
Whereas,and EveryWHEREAS, March,Michigan’s statesfood nationwideand comeagriculture togethersector tois celebratethe second- most diverse in the vitalcountry rolewith 47,600 farms, 99 percent of foodwhich are family- owned, farming nearly 10 million acres of farmland and agriculturecommercially inproducing drivingmore thethan national300 economy;food and agricultural commodities;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, The Michigan foodranks andfirst agriculturein industry contributes more than $125.8 billion annually to the state’snation economy and is a major source of employment for ourasparagus workforce,production, supportingproducing approximatelyup 805,000to jobs,30 whichmillion ispounds roughlyannually; 17.2 percent of the state’s workforce;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan’sOur foodstate andis agriculturealso sectorone isof the second-top mostblueberry-producing diversestates, in the country with 47,60087 farms,million 99pounds percentproduced ofby whichover Ag500 Dayfarms, 26_SR101_AA_1contributing 1ugq2j 1 are family-owned, farming nearly 10$130 million acresto ofthe farmlandstate’s andeconomy; commercially producing more than 300 food and agricultural commodities;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan rankshas firstabout in12,000 thefarms nationwith for1.1 asparagusmillion production,cattle producingand upcalves, tocontributing 30$140 million poundsin beef exports annually;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Our state isproduced alsoover one500 of the top blueberry-producing states, with 87 million pounds producedof bydry overedible 500beans, farms,valued contributingat nearlyover $130$200 millionmillion; to the state’s economy;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan hasranks aboutseventh 12,000in farmsegg production, with 1.1more than 16.6 million cattlelaying andhens calves,on contributingaverage $140producing millionover in5 beefbillion exportseggs annually;per year, economically impacting the state by $1.4 billion;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, OurWe statelead producedthe overnation 500in millionfloriculture poundscrops, ofincluding dryimpatiens, ediblebegonias, beans,marigolds, valuedgeraniums, athearty overchrysanthemums, $200and petunias, with a value of $695 million;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan rankshas seventh10,900 inacres eggof production,vines, withmaking moreit thanthe 16.6eighth-largest milliongrape-producing layingstate hensin onthe averagenation producingand overhome 5to billionmore eggsthan percommercial year,wineries; economically impacting the state by $1.4 billion;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, WeOur leadstate theis nationnow inthe floriculturefourth-largest crops,hop-growing includingstate impatiens,in begonias,the marigolds,United geraniums,States; hearty chrysanthemums, and petunias, with a value of $695 million;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, In 2022, Michigan hashad 10,9002,066,138 acres of vines,farms makingunder itirrigation; the eighth-largest grape-producing state in the nation and home to more than 200 commercial wineries;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, OurMichigan stategrows is59 nowpercent of the fourth-largestUnited hop-growingStates’ statetart cherries, ranking first in theproduction Unitedwith States;182 million pounds;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, InOur 2022,state Michigangrows hadover 2,066,1381.2 acresbillion pounds of farmsapples underon irrigation;38,000 aces, with an economic impact of over $350 million;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan grows 59many percentvarieties of thekale, Unitedwith States’market tartgrowth cherries,exceeding ranking60 firstpercent in productionrecent withyears; 182 million pounds;
and AgWHEREAS, Day 26_SR101_AA_1 1ugq2j 1 Whereas, Our state growsproduces overmultiple 1.2varieties billion pounds of appleslettuce, onboth 38,000indoors aces,and withoutdoors, anbenefiting economicfrom impactclimate, ofmuck oversoils, $350and million;hydroponic opportunities;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan growsranks manyfifth varietiesin ofthe kale,nation for maple syrup production, producing approximately 200,000 gallons per year, with marketan growtheconomic exceedingimpact 60of percent$8.7 million in recent2023; years;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Our statestate’s producesnursery, multiplelandscape, varieties of lettuce, both indoors and outdoors,lawn benefitingcare fromindustries climate,contribute muck$4.5 soils,billion andto hydroponicthe opportunities;economy;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan ranksproduced fifthmore inthan the11 nationmillion forpounds maple syrup production, producing approximately 200,000 gallons per year, with an economic impact of $8.7peaches millionon inroughly 2023;23,000 acres;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, OurSoybeans state’sare nursery,Michigan’s landscape,top andagricultural lawnexport, carewith industriesover contribute105 $4.5million billionbushels toproduced, thevalued economy;at over $1.55 billion;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan producedgrows moretomatoes thanfor 11both millionfresh poundsand processed uses, producing 120,100 tons of peachesprocessing ontomatoes roughlyand 23,00074 acres;million pounds for the fresh market;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, SoybeansOur arestate Michigan’sis tophome agriculturalto export,over with1,000 dairy farms, caring for over 105440,000, millionproducing bushelsan produced,industry-leading valued27,680 atpounds overof $1.55milk billion;per cow annually, ranking sixth in the nation for milk production;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan grows tomatoesover for500 bothtypes fresh and processed uses, producing 120,100 tons of processingvegetables, tomatoeswith and3,047 74farms millionharvesting poundsover for165,000 theacres; fresh market;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Our state ishas home to over 1,000460,000 dairyacres farms,of caringwheat foracross over75 440,000,counties, producing anover industry-leading36 27,680million poundsbushels ofannually; milk per cow annually, ranking sixth in the nation for milk production;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan growsis overthe 500leading typesproducer of vegetables,potatoes for potato chip processing, making potatoes the second-leading produce commodity in the state, with 3,047over farms1.9 harvestingbillion pounds of potatoes produced annually, contributing over 165,000$2.5 acres;billion of Michigan’s economy;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Our statestate’s haspumpkin overand 460,000squash acresproduction ofgenerates wheatover across$55 75million counties,from producingapproximately over257 36 million bushelspounds annually;of produce;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, Michigan isranks thefirst leadingnationally producer of potatoes for Ag Day 26_SR101_AA_1 1ugq2j 1 potato chip processing, making potatoes the second-leading produce commodity in thecucumber state,production, with over 1.9800 billionfarms poundsharvesting of potatoes produced annually, contributing over $2.529,000 billionacres ofand Michigan’s53.6 economy;million pounds;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, OurIt is evident that our state’s pumpkinfood and squashagriculture productionsector generatescontinues overto $55be milliona fromthriving approximatelyindustry, 257offering millionnew poundsopportunities for Michiganders, making food and agriculture a cornerstone of produce;Michigan’s continued prosperity;
andnow, Whereas,therefore, Michiganbe ranksit firstRESOLVED nationallyBY inTHE cucumberSENATE, production,That withthe overmembers 800of farmsthis harvestinglegislative overbody 29,000designate acresMarch and2026 53.6as millionAgriculture pounds;Appreciation Month.
and Whereas, It is evident that our state’s food and agriculture sector continues to be a thriving industry, offering new opportunities for Michiganders, making food and agriculture a cornerstone of Michigan’s continued prosperity;
now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body designate March 2026 as Agriculture Appreciation Month.
AgAdopted Dayby 26_SR101_AA_1the 1ugq2jSenate, March 17, 2026.
Secretary of the Senate