Senate Committee Supports Idaho Ag Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2007 Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriations bill today. The bill provides funding for agricultural programs around the country.

Idaho Senator Larry Craig, a member of the Committee, announced the Committee's support of a number of programs important to Idaho and Idaho farmers. Craig said, "Agriculture remains a top economic driver in Idaho. To keep it there, we need to constantly develop and improve our industry and rural communities. Superior techniques and varieties are what keep American agriculture competitive in the world market."

Three programs received new or increased funding:

Billingsley Creek Aquaculture Facility ($2 million) - Funds will be used for construction of a state-of-the-art cool and coldwater aquaculture research at the University of Idaho's facility near Hagerman, Idaho. This project received $1 million in FY2006.
Little Wood River Irrigation District Gravity Pressure Delivery System ($250,000) - The irrigation district serves the area around Carey, Idaho, and will use the funds to begin converting their system from an open canal gravity delivery system to a closed gravity pressurized delivery system. Key advantages include an energy savings of 7,740 mwh/year, a 30 percent savings in water usage on irrigated cropland, and eliminating the need for potable water use for in-town landscape watering.
Soybean and Wheat Stem Rust Research at Aberdeen ($400,000) - Research will be conducted at the Agriculture Research Service station in Aberdeen, Idaho, on slaying stem rust in soybeans and wheat.

A slew of other projects, many of which have been ongoing for a number of years, received continued support. Projects include:

Improving Safety and Shelf-life of Idaho Commodities
Potato Research at Aberdeen
Rainbow Trout Physiology
Sustainable Feeds for Aquaculture
Sugar Beet Research at Kimberly
Nez Perce Bio-Control Center
Barley for Rural Development
Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee
Viticulture Research
Tri-State Predator Control
Canola Research
Potato Variety Development
Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research
Cool Season Legume Research
Grass Seed Cropping for Sustainable Agriculture
Wood Utilization Research
Northwest Center for Aquaculture Research and Education
Jointed Goat Grass Research
Great Basins Rangeland Project
Grain Legume Plant Pathologist as Washington State University
Regional Barley Genome Mapping

The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

For information on all of the projects Senator Craig has successfully supported in annual appropriations bills since fiscal year 1998, please visit Senator Craig's Idaho Initiatives report.

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