Cantwell Applauds Approval of Vital Agriculture Package, Secures $19 Million for Washington State Farmers
Funding will Boost Agriculture Exports, Expand WSU Research, Track Canadian Cattle Imports
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) applauded the Senate’s approval Thursday of an agriculture bill that will give Pacific Northwest farmers an important boost and expand agriculture research efforts at Washington State University (WSU). All together, Cantwell helped secure nearly $19 million in the bill to support Washington state farmers.
"Today we affirmed our solid support for America’s farmers," said Cantwell. "Agriculture is the backbone of Washington state’s economy, and this bill makes important investments in our future. By supporting ground-breaking agricultural research, we’re keeping Washington competitive, and we’re making sure the jobs stay right here at home."
The Conference Report on the Agriculture Appropriations bill, approved Thursday, restores $179 million in vital Hatch Act funding that was slated for elimination in the President’s Budget Proposal. The Hatch Act provides important resources to agriculture research programs at land-grant universities like Washington State University (WSU). Senator Cantwell fought hard to save this important funding, highlighting the importance of agricultural research to Washington state’s continued economic competitiveness. Without this federal support, many existing agriculture research programs would be non-existent, and WSU would have been forced to close one or more of its agricultural research centers.
"By reinforcing agriculture research, we’ve made sure Washington state remains on the cutting edge of agriculture innovation," said Cantwell.
Cantwell secured $3,625 million for construction of a new Agriculture Research Service (ARS) facility in Pullman, Washington. Currently, ARS scientists in Pullman work in inadequate facilites, lack room to grow, and do not have the labratory space needed to conduct existing work. The new facility will provide a state of the art research lab allowing ARS and WSU scientists to train students and collaborate on project benefiting agriculture productivity and profitability in the Pacific Northwest.
Cantwell was also successful in securing $50,000 to assist the State’s Veterinary office track Canadian Cattle imports through Washington more effectively. Since the December 2003 discovery of a BSE-infected cow in Mabton, Washington, the state’s beef industry has suffered considerable economic losses, with most of Washington’s major trading partners closing their markets to U.S. beef even though the infected cow was of Canadian origin. Cantwell’s cattle tracking initiative will help implement measures to protect against Mad Cow and keep track of Canadian Cattle imports.
In addition to funding a host of other WSU research initiatives, the agriculture appropriations bill adds Washington to the states eligible to participate in the Simplified Summer Food Service Program—a program to boost participation in summer reduced-fee lunch programs for children.
The House passed the Conference Report on the Agriculture Appropriation bill last week. A list of Cantwell-sponsored project included in the final version of the Agriculture Appropriations bill follows.
Cantwell Victories for Washington State Agriculture
Hatch Act Funding Restoration
Cantwell helped restored $179 million in Hatch Act funding. The Hatch Act provides vital resources to agriculture research programs at land-grant universities like Washington State University. Cuts proposed by President Bush would have forced WSU to close one or more of its nine agricultural research centers, but Cantwell joined Congressional colleagues to restore Hatch Act funding.
ARS Research Facility in Pullman
Cantwell secured $3,625,000 to upgrade the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) Research Facility in Pullman Washington. Currently, the ARS scientists in Pullman are working in inadequate facilities, lack room to grow, and have insufficient laboratory space. The new facility will provide a state of the art research facility allowing USDA ARS and WSU scientists to collaborate on national and regional projects. It will also train students and contribute to the economic productivity and profitability of agriculture in the Pacific Northwest.
Canadian Feeder Cattle Tracking Initiative
Cantwell secured $50,000 for a Canadian Feeder Cattle Tracking Initiative to keep track of age and identity of Canadian cattle imports in Washington state. The proposal would use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags already applied to imported Canadian cattle as part of an electronic tracking program already deployed within the state.
Washington Agricultural Competitiveness Program
Cantwell secured $679,000 for the Washington Agricultural Competitiveness program. This program works to identify new export opportunities crucial to Pacific Northwest farmers, and solves technical problems that impede exports.
WSU Northwest Center for Aquaculture Research & Education
Cantwell secured $764,000 to establish a comprehensive shellfish research and outreach program at the Northwest Center for Aquaculture Research & Education. This center is operated jointly by Washington State University and the University of Idaho and seeks to better understand the constraints limiting the aquaculture industry in the Pacific Northwest.
WSU Improving International Competitiveness of Washington Asparagus Program
Cantwell secured $248,000 for the Improving International Competitiveness of Washington/Oregon and Michigan Asparagus Program at Washington State University. These funds will help Washington and Michigan asparagus industries find ways to reducing costs, allowing them to stay competitive within the global asparagus trade.
Northwest Grape Foundation Block Facility
Cantwell secured $322,000 for the Northwest Grape Foundation Block facility managed by Washington State University. This funding will expand and safeguard grapevine certification and propagation in a revitalized Northwest Grape Foundation Block facility. It will also allow for the importation of new grape plants into the Grape Foundation Block, evaluate performance of grape plants in the unique Pacific Northwest grape growing region, and educate growers on the importance of utilizing disease-free plants.
ARS Potato Research
Cantwell helped secure $1,497,000 for ARS potato research. A portion of the funds will go to the Cropping Systems Agronomy program at the Prosser ARS research unit, which and will work to improve land use systems to maintain net returns while preserving soil and water quality.
Cool Season Food Legume Research
Cantwell secured $564,000 for Cool Season Food Legume research to improve the efficiency & sustainability of dry pea, fresh pea, lentil and chickpea industries This research program was established in 1991 to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the U.S. dry pea, fresh pea, lentil and chickpea industries.
Columbia Plateau Wind Erosion Control Study
Cantwell secured $387,000 for the PM-10 air quality study to develop wind erosion control methods. The Columbia Plateau PM-10 project is developing wind erosion control methods via long-term cropping systems by studying the low-precipitation dry-land region of eastern Washington. The research focuses on cover crop management following high soil disturbance crops such as potatoes and sugar beets, and is helping growers to find feasible alternatives to burning cereal stubble.
Organic Cropping Research and Education for the Northwest
Cantwell secured $359,000 for Organic Cropping Research and Education. This will benefit crop production in the existing program and test efficacy of organic pest management materials and fertilizers. The funding will also facilitate the expansion of current research within Washington, and the initiation of research with partners in Idaho and Oregon.
WSU Grass Seed Cropping Systems for Sustainable Agriculture
Cantwell secured $450,000 for research and education at Washington Sate University’s Grass Seed Cropping Systems for Sustainable Agriculture. Currently, over 90% of the U.S. cool-season forage and turfgrass is produced in the Pacific Northwest. Due to critical environmental and economic challenges, high-priority research and education needs are being addressed through a sustainable production system. This system is utilizing the research and technology expertise of scientists from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and USDA-ARS with input from industry representatives.
WSU Sustainable Food Security for Central Asia and the Caucasus
Cantwell secured $398,000 for the Sustainable Food Security for Central Asia and the Caucasus project at Washington State University. The eight countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) are within the center of origin for many of the most important crops grown in the U.S., as well as some of the worst weeds. Recent droughts and past cropping practices in these areas have started to impact the long term sustainability of crop production and soil and water quality. WSU, and partner universities, would bring a pragmatic approach to revitalizing agricultural research and technology-transfer in the CAC, as well as lending support to the formulation of appropriate agricultural policies, market infrastructure and private sector involvement within the region.
WSU Development and Feasibility of Perennial Wheat for Highly Erodable Lands
Cantwell secured $141,000 for the Washington State University’s Development and Feasibility of Perennial Wheat for Highly Erodable Lands. The focus of this research is to develop perennial wheat that will offer a viable option in systems designed for sustainability and environmental stewardship. Constant soil coverage, resistance to most pests and diseases and providing a potential source of straw for new fiber products are just some of the advantages of perennial wheat. The overall goal is to make perennial wheat a viable part of small grains cropping systems, especially in areas where soil erosion potential is high.
WSU Control Jointed Goatgrass Program
Cantwell secured $355,000 for the Jointed Goatgrass program at Washington State University. Currently, Jointed Goatgrass infests nearly five million acres of winter wheat in the western U.S., costing wheat producers an estimated $145,000,000 annually. Since Jointed Goatgrass cannot be controlled selectively in wheat with current methods because it is genetically related to wheat, the program’s goal is to reduce the impact of Jointed Goatgrass on wheat production.
Pacific Northwest Small Fruit Center
Cantwell secured $443,000 for the Pacific Northwest Small Fruit Center to provide a progressive approach to genetics research, plant breeding, pest management, and processing methods. The Center is a network of Federal ARS and State scientists and industry cooperators from Washington, Oregon and Idaho who identify priorities and conduct a coordinated research program on berry and grape crops.
Alternative High Return Crops
Cantwell helped secure $1,187,000 to help farmers improve the return on alternative crops in the climate of western Washington. Traditional processing crops—the mainstay of western Washington’s farm economy—is no longer profitable. With urban sprawl and the costs of production on the rise, farmers are in desperate need of research to test and evaluate the return on investment for alternative crops that will thrive in the unique maritime climate of western Washington. Funding for this program will expand the alternative fruits testing, develop value added fruit and vegetable products from locally grown crops, and develop direct marketing opportunities for local growers.
ARS Winter Grain Legume Plant Geneticist Position
Cantwell secured $120,000 to create a Winter Grain Legume Plant Geneticist position at USDA-ARS. This position would be devoted to research on the breeding of winter varieties of dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas, which are important to rotational crops for farmers in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. Winter legumes would also help U.S. farmers compete with Canadian farmers, who cannot grow autumn-planted legumes because of the harsh, cold winters.
USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
Cantwell secured $808,000 for the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service for the Pest Detection Program and the Golden Nematode Quarantine program.
Northwest Washington Farmland Protection Program
Cantwell secured language in the Agriculture appropriations bill to help the Northwest Washington Farmland Protection Program slow sprawl, prevent land use conversion, and support farmers in economic danger. Over the past seven years, the Farmland Legacy Program has acquired over 4,000 acres. The Citizen Advisory Committee has identified critical purchases which would help to slow sprawl, prevent conversion of the land to other uses, while supporting farmers in economic danger.
McGovern-Dole International Food Program
Cantwell helped secure $100 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food Program, which works with U.S. producers to promote education, child development, and food security to the world’s poorest children. In low-income countries, it provides for school feedings and maternal and child nutrition programs.
Trade Issues Resolution and Management Program
Cantwell helped secure $12,583,000 for the Trade Issues Resolution and Management Program, which helps facilitate the export of U.S. agricultural products when trade barriers threaten U.S. access to foreign markets.
Yakima Resource Conservation and Development Council
Cantwell helped restore $51,300,000 in Resource Conservation and Development Councils funding that was cut in the President’s budget proposal. A portion of the funding will go to the Yakima Resource Conservation and Development Council. The Yakima Council has a record of service to the community, providing for fish habitat and barrier mitigation utilizing Bonneville Power funding, and public recreation access plans using Forest Service funding.
Core Programs at the National Agricultural Statistics Service
Cantwell helped secure $140,700 for Core Programs at the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Adding Washington State to the Lugar Pilot Program
Cantwell helped add Washington State to the list of states eligible to participate in a pilot program create by Senator Lugar that will boost enrollment and participation in summer reduced-fee lunch programs. Within the states where the Lugar Pilot was implemented, participation in the summer feeding program rose 12 percent compared to nonparticipating states. The program works to boost participation by reducing complicated paperwork and increasing reimbursements to food sponsor organizations.
Next Article Previous Article
