SENATE MEMORIAL 49

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE NEED FOR AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS AND REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ASSIST IN THE STUDY.

     WHEREAS, farming and ranching are the lifeblood of New Mexico, with centuries upon centuries of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo families making their living and their lives from the land; and

     WHEREAS, agriculture is vital to New Mexico's economy, environment and culture and it is important to conserve, protect, encourage, develop and improve agricultural land for the production of agricultural products and to reduce the loss to the state of its agricultural resources by limiting the conversion of farmland or ranchland to development; and

     WHEREAS, in many parts of the state, agricultural resources are in danger from urban pressures, such as land being taken out of production for development and agricultural water rights being sold for urban uses; and

     WHEREAS, thousands of agricultural acres each year are prematurely or unnecessarily converted to urban uses and farms and ranches are impinged upon by urban sprawl; and

     WHEREAS, as urban centers expand, the resulting increase in land values discourages investments in farm and ranch improvements;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to appoint an interim committee to study the need to protect agricultural resources in New Mexico through the creation of agricultural districts, the use of conservation easements, the limiting of eminent domain powers and other methods; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico department of agriculture be requested to assist the committee in its study; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the first session of the forty-ninth legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council.

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