Bill > HM27

This Memorial expresses support for the Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Task Force, a group formed by New Mexico State University, New Mexico First, and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, to address significant challenges facing the state's vital agricultural industry. These challenges include water scarcity, restrictive regulations, an aging workforce, a need for new farmers, limited local processing, negative public perception, and federal land management issues, all of which impact the ability of farmers and ranchers to sustain themselves and contribute to food security, particularly given New Mexico's high rate of food insecurity among children. The task force, comprised of diverse stakeholders, is tasked with developing a statewide strategic plan for agricultural resilience, focusing on infrastructure, local production, innovation, funding, and education for new farmers, with the goal of improving the agricultural sector for future resiliency and job growth, and is required to report its progress and funding priorities to legislative committees by October 1, 2017.