III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 544 

Designating the year of 2014 as the ‘‘International Year of Family Farming’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. GRASSLEY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. CRAPO, Ms. 

HEITKAMP, Mr. HOEVEN, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mr. MORAN, 

and Mr. DONNELLY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the year of 2014 as the ‘‘International Year 

of Family Farming’’. 

Whereas United Nations Resolution A/Res/66/222, adopted 

by the General Assembly on December 22, 2011, designates the year 2014 as the ‘‘International Year of 

Family Farming’’; 

Whereas the International Year of Family Farming recognizes the important contribution of family farming in 

food security and eradicating poverty around the world; 

Whereas in the United States, family farms constitute 96 

percent of all farms; 

Whereas the agriculture sector contributes more than 

$130,000,000,000 to the United States economy, employs 

approximately 14 percent of the total workforce in the 


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•SRES 544 ATS 

United States, and accounts for nearly 5 percent of the 

United States gross domestic product; 

Whereas 45 percent of individuals around the world make a 

living directly by farming; 

Whereas family farming is the predominant form of agriculture in both developing and developed countries; 

Whereas family farming serves as a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fishery, pastoral, and aquaculture production; 

Whereas family farming plays important socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural roles; 

Whereas family farmers grow high-quality food, are active 

participants in civil society, and are stewards of the land; 

Whereas 75 percent of the poorest individuals around the 

world live in rural areas; 

Whereas family farms are linked to most areas of rural development and have invested significantly in local communities; 

Whereas the majority of farmers around the world are women 

who produce up to 80 percent of food around the world; 

and 

Whereas 870,000,000 individuals are suffering from chronic 

undernourishment and a disproportionate number of such 

individuals are farmers: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the year 2014 as the ‘‘Inter3 national Year of Family Farming’’; 

4 (2) congratulates family farmers in the United 

5 States and around the world; 


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•SRES 544 ATS 

1 (3) recognizes the vital role family farms play 

2 in the economic and social well-being of the United 

3 States and the world; 

4 (4) recognizes the importance of raising the 

5 profile of family farming by focusing the attention of 

6 individuals around the world on the significant role 

7 of family farming in alleviating hunger and poverty, 

8 providing food security and nutrition, improving live9 lihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the 

10 environment, and achieving sustainable development 

11 in rural areas; 

12 (5) encourages countries, national organiza13 tions, and States to undertake activities to support 

14 the International Year of Family Farming; 

15 (6) recognizes the role and importance of 

16 women in family farming; 

17 (7) emphasizes the positive impact of family 

18 farms and developing new programs for domestic 

19 and international family agricultural development; 

20 and 

21 (8) advocates for the protection of the viability 

22 of family farms, which serve as the foundation of 

23 rural society and social stability. 

Æ 


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