HOUSK JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 57 



A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF 

 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING 

 AN INTERIM STUDY OF THE PROBLEMS FACING THE 

 AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF THE MONTANA ECONOMY. 



WHEREAS, Montana's fannily farm and ranch operators are being 

 squeezed between low commodity prices and high operating and overhead 

 costs that threaten to erase many such agricultural units from the 

 productive framework; and 



WHEREAS, the health of main street businesses in most communities of 

 the state reflects the economic condition of agriculture; and 



WHEREAS, the stability of many Montana financial institutions depends 

 upon the ability of farmers and ranchers to fulfill their obligations 

 promptly and upon maintenance of values of farm and ranch land; and 



WHEREAS, state and local governments lely upon a continuing How of 

 tax revenue generated by or related to agriculture; and 



WHEREAS, information on the farm credit system and on agricultural 

 marketing problems including exports, embargo protection, meat imports, 

 foreign aid food programs, subsidized food export programs, and supply 

 management programs is required for the development of effective 

 legislation; and 



WHEREAS, legislation to provide a long-term solution to the problems 

 of agi'iculture requires bipartisan support for a continuing program to 

 assure equitable commodity prices that will allow farmers and ranchers to 

 realize profits on their products and such legislation must include 

 workable provisions capable of withstanding changes in administrations 

 and capable of adjusting with domestic and international economic 

 fluctuations; and 



WHEREAS, assessment of the impact of factors such as federal deficits 

 and high interest rates is necessary to an understanding of the plight of 

 agriculture; and 



WHEREAS, certain members of the 49th Legislature, recognizing the 

 effect of these and other factors upon the viability of Montana's farm 

 and ranch economy, participated in the deliberations of the Cooperative 

 Agricultural Rcwitalization EITort, otherwise known as the CARE Forum, 

 to assess the extent of the state's agricultural problems and to search for 

 remedies to the impending crisis situation; and 



WHEREAS, the CARE Forum lacked the time and resources to complete 

 its agenda and the Ixjgislature recognizes the need for continuation of an 

 effort such as the CARE Forum. 



