MS HC78

Commends and congratulates the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation on its 100th anniversary, officially chartered on October 30, 1922, with C.L. Neill of Jones County elected as the first president.

Recognizes the organization's mission to serve farmers, ranchers, and rural Mississippians through offices in all 82 Mississippi counties and grassroots policy development at county, state, and national levels.

Acknowledges the Farm Bureau's role in passing legislation including a right-to-farm bill, emergency funding for roads and bridges, and broadband Internet access for rural areas.

Credits the organization with Initiative 31, which collected 120,000 signatures and was approved by 73 percent of voters in the 2011 general election to restrict eminent domain takings for 10 years.

Notes the Farm Bureau promotes 17 Mississippi commodities including aquaculture, beef, corn, cotton, dairy, equine, forage, forestry, honeybees, horticulture, peanuts, poultry, soybeans, sweet potatoes, swine, rice, and wheat.