05.17.05

Cantwell Invites Ag Secretary to Tour WSU Research Centers Slated For Cuts

Senator Urges Secretary To Abandon Administration's Proposal To Eliminate Critical Hatch Act Research Funding

WASHINGTON , D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today invited U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to visit Washington State University 's (WSU's) agricultural research centers during his visit to Washington state later this week. If budget cuts proposed by President Bush pass through Congress, WSU may have to close one or more of these nine centers, which have been responsible for some of Washington state's biggest agricultural successes. Cantwell is working to try to save the $179 million Hatch Act research funding, including $3.5 million for WSU.

"Since you will be in Washington state and discussing issues with agriculture leaders, I invite you to travel to Prosser to visit WSU's Agriculture Center. I am confident that once you have had the opportunity to see the important projects that are being conducted at this site, you will agree that eliminating the Hatch program would be detrimental to agriculture research – research that has helped keep U.S. agriculture competitive in the global economy," Cantwell wrote.

Earlier this month, Cantwell toured WSU's Prosser facility, which could close if the President's budget gets approved by Congress. The president's budget calls for a 50 percent reduction in funding for the program in fiscal year 2006, and no funding at all for the program in fiscal year 2007.

WSU, a recognized global leader in conducting agricultural research, has received funding from the Hatch Act since 1890. The funding represents a partnership between states and the federal government to provide "base" research funding for agriculture research at America 's land-grant universities. Hatch funding is especially important in supporting projects where other competitive federal grants are unavailable, like for WSU's plant breeding program. In the past, this funding has led to the development of several varieties of raspberries, grapes, wheat, and potatoes.

One success story in particular is WSU's sweet cherry breeding program, which led to the development of the world famous White Rainier Cherry, now a major export to Asia.

The Prosser facility is also home to WSU scientist Walter Clore, whose research identified regions of Washington state where grape cultivation and winemaking could flourish. Washington state is now the second largest producer of premium wines in the country, delivering $2.4 billion to the state's economy.

WSU's eight other agricultural research centers or units are located in Mount Vernon, Puyallup, Long Beach, Vancouver, Wenatchee, Colockum Creek, Lind, and Othello.

Secretary Johanns is expected to visit Vancouver, Washington to commemorate the 25 th anniversary of Mount Saint Helens' eruption.

The text of Cantwell's letter follows below:

May 17, 2005

The Honorable Michael Johanns

Secretary

United States Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I want to commend you on your decision to visit Washington state to participate in roundtable discussions with Washington state business and agriculture leaders. Your visit is very timely as I would like to bring your attention to an issue I am extremely concerned about that would have a profound impact on agriculture research at Washington State University and other land-grant universities around the country.

It has come to my attention that the President's budget proposal for fiscal year 2006 includes a proposal to slash important agriculture research funding authorized under the Hatch Act by fifty percent in fiscal year 2006 and completely eliminate it in 2007.

As you known, the Hatch Act was established to fund agriculture research projects at our nation's land-grant universities. For over 118 years, the Hatch Act has provided base funding for important agriculture research which has proven to be a great investment for all of the segments of Washington state's diverse agricultural economy.

Research supported by Hatch funding has supported a number of groundbreaking research programs at Washington State University (WSU). This includes WSU's sweet cherry breeding program – the project which led to the development of the White Rainier cherry, now the highest value cherry produced in the Pacific Northwest. Hatch funding also supported research that led to the development of varieties of potatoes that are resistant to pathogenic diseases and require fewer pesticides to produce.

Additionally, Hatch funding was also critically important in supporting the research of WSU scientist Walter Clore, whose work helped to identify regions in Washington state where grape cultivation and wine making could flourish. Our state's $2.9 billion dollar wine industry is now the second largest in the U.S.

Although competitive grants awarded annually from both the state and federal governments provide an important source of funding for agriculture research, funding from the Hatch program is essential to these types of programs that require a continual, multi-year commitment.

The research that led to the aforementioned successes was conduced at WSU's Prosser Agriculture Center, one of nine regional agriculture centers that the university maintains. However, WSU has estimated that it will have to close one or more of these facilities as well as cut as many as 100 faculty positions under the Administration's proposal to eliminate Hatch funding. Last year, the Hatch program was allocated $179 million, $3.5 of which went to WSU.

Since you will be in Washington state and discussing issues with agriculture leaders, I invite you to travel to Prosser to visit WSU's Agriculture Center. I am confident that once you have had the opportunity to see the important projects that are being conducted at this site, you will agree that eliminating the Hatch program would be detrimental to agriculture research – research that has helped keep U.S. agriculture competitive in the global economy.

I trust that your schedule is busy with commitments while visiting my state, but maintaining agriculture research funding provided by the Hatch Act is a very important and pressing issue for our land-grant universities and our nation's farmers. I urge you to take the time to see first hand, the potential effects that the President's proposal will have on important agriculture research.

I am confident that the producers you meet with will echo my concerns and stress to you the importance of maintaining this partnership between the federal government and our land-grant universities.

Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell

United States Senator

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