ADOPTED - JULY 23, 2002

Agenda Item No. 11

Introduced by the Administrative Services/Personnel Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF JULY AS "MICHIGAN FARM WORKERS APPRECIATION MONTH" IN INGHAM COUNTY

RESOLUTION #02-181

WHEREAS, Michigan is one of the nation's most diverse agricultural states growing over 100 commercial crops, second only to California in variety; and

WHEREAS, for nearly 100 years, hardworking farm worker men and women have helped cultivate our soil, work our land, and sustain and grow Michigan's agricultural economy and the state's urban and rural areas; and

WHEREAS, Michigan is the 5^th leading user of migrant and seasonal labor in the country, involved in the production and harvest of over 45 crops whose estimated state total field value is $2 billion; and

WHEREAS, Michigan's economy gained $34 million in Federal government transfer payments for programs to service the migrant and seasonal farm worker population in the state; and

WHEREAS, 264 Ingham County farms employing over 1,600 farm workers have an estimated payroll cost of $7,599,000; and

WHEREAS, migrant farm workers spend about half of their season's earnings in rural and urban communities across Michigan where they work; and

WHEREAS, the weekly earnings of all Michigan farm workers and of migrant farm workers equal 69% and 57% respectively of the earnings of U.S. wage and salary workers; and

WHEREAS, farm workers are excluded from many state and federal labor laws, work in one of the most hazardous industries, and suffer some of the worst working and living conditions of any group of workers in the state; and

WHEREAS, for over half a century migrant farm workers have been making Ingham County their home and have become productive members of our communities and neighborhoods.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby designate the month of July as "Michigan Farm Worker Appreciation Month" in Ingham County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board appreciates the contributions Michigan migrant and seasonal farm workers make to the citizens of Ingham County and across the nation.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES/PERSONNEL: Yeas: Swope, De Leon, Celentino, Severino

Nays: None Absent: Lynch Approved 7/16/02