Board of Commissioners of Cook County - File #: 26-0952

• File #: 26-0952
• Version: 1
• Name: NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY
• Type: Consent Calendar Resolution
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 3/4/2026
• In control: Board of Commissioners
• On agenda: 3/12/2026
• Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 24, 2026, AS NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY WHEREAS, Illinois is home to more than 71,000 farms, the vast majority of which are family-owned and operated; and WHEREAS, Cook County remains home to over 10,000 acres of farmland with an average farm size of about 67 acres; and WHEREAS, Agriculture includes the growing, raising, and harvesting of crops for both human and animal consumption, as well as the raising of livestock; and WHEREAS, Cook County agriculture includes vegetable, floriculture, grain, nursery, row crop production, and livestock; and WHEREAS, Cook County ranks among the top counties in Illinois for nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod production; and WHEREAS, Cook County is home to numerous examples of urban agriculture, including the raising, cultivation, processing, marketing, and distribution of food in urban and suburban settings; and WHEREAS, Urban agriculture in Cook County generally involves outdoor and indoor vertica...
• Sponsors: TONI PRECKWINKLE (President), FRANK J. AGUILAR, ALMA E. ANAYA, SCOTT R. BRITTON, JOHN P. DALEY, BRIDGET DEGNEN, BRIDGET GAINER, BILL LOWRY, DR. KISHA E. McCASKILL, DONNA MILLER, STANLEY MOORE, JOSINA MORITA, KEVIN B. MORRISON, SEAN M. MORRISON, MICHAEL SCOTT JR., TARA S. STAMPS, MAGGIE TREVOR, JESSICA VÁSQUEZ

title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION

RECOGNIZING MARCH 24, 2026, AS NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY

WHEREAS, Illinois is home to more than 71,000 farms, the vast majority of which are family-owned and operated; and

WHEREAS, Cook County remains home to over 10,000 acres of farmland with an average farm size of about 67 acres; and

WHEREAS, Agriculture includes the growing, raising, and harvesting of crops for both human and animal consumption, as well as the raising of livestock; and

WHEREAS, Cook County agriculture includes vegetable, floriculture, grain, nursery, row crop production, and livestock; and

WHEREAS, Cook County ranks among the top counties in Illinois for nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod production; and

WHEREAS, Cook County is home to numerous examples of urban agriculture, including the raising, cultivation, processing, marketing, and distribution of food in urban and suburban settings; and

WHEREAS, Urban agriculture in Cook County generally involves outdoor and indoor vertical production, indoor warehouse farms, greenhouses, rooftop farms, and hydroponic and aquaponic facilities; and

WHEREAS, Agriculture and agriculture-related industries continue to be a critical economic engine for Cook County, supporting over 110,000 jobs and generating more than $15.4 billion in value-added economic activity; and

WHEREAS, Cook County's food manufacturing industry added $9.1 billion to Chicagoland's Gross Domestic Product; and

WHEREAS, Cook County's bread and bakery sector contributed nearly $1 billion to the economy in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Nonchocolate candy manufacturing contributed nearly 3,500 jobs and over $540 million to the County's economy; and

WHEREAS, Cook County and Illinois farmers grow healthy and nutritious food for local, state, and national markets; and

WHEREAS, Farmland is a finite and vital resource that supports agriculture, food production, and the economic well-being of Cook County and the State of Illinois; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ...