Bill Text: NJ A530 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates corn as New Jersey State Grain.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [A530 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A530-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIK PETERSON
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Johnson
SYNOPSIS
Designates corn as New Jersey State Grain.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act designating corn as the New Jersey State Grain and supplementing chapter 9A of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Whereas, Corn was first grown over 5,600 years ago in Mexico by the Mayan and Aztec tribes; and
Whereas, Christopher Columbus received corn as a gift from the Native Americans that he encountered in the Caribbean and brought it back to Spain, where it quickly became a staple of the European diet; and
Whereas, Within a short time, corn was grown in Europe and throughout the world; and
Whereas, Corn became a staple of the United States with the first Pilgrims who arrived in this country as these settlers may have died from starvation during the first winter if the Native Americans had not given the settlers corn to eat; and
Whereas, Corn is now the most widely produced feed grain in the United States with approximately 80 million acres of land planted with corn; and
Whereas, According to the National Corn Growers Association, about 80 percent of all corn grown in the United States is fed to livestock and poultry as ground grain; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, approximately 71,000 acres of corn were harvested for grain and the total crop value was approximately $41.3 million in 2010; and
Whereas, In 2011, approximately 82,000 acres of corn were harvested for grain in New Jersey, an increase of 11,000 acres from 2010; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Corn is designated as the New Jersey State grain.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Corn was first grown over 5,600 years ago in Mexico by the Mayan and Aztec tribes. Corn has been a dietary staple in the United States beginning with the first Pilgrims. These settlers may have died from starvation during the first winter if the Native Americans had not given them corn to eat. Corn is now the most widely produced feed grain in the United States with approximately 80 million acres of land planted with corn.
In New Jersey, approximately 71,000 acres of corn were harvested for grain and the total crop value was approximately 41.3 million in 2010. In 2011, approximately 82,000 acres of corn were harvested for gain, an increase of 11,000 acres from 2010.
