Project: Ag in the Classroom
FY2010 Emerson Request: $1,000,000
Account: CSREES
Recipient: USDA - CSREES
The CSREES Agriculture in the Classroom Program (AITC) serves nearly 5 million students and 120,000 teachers annually through workshops, conferences, field trips, farm tours, and other educational activities. AITC programs include working with state AITC activities engaged in a variety of issues relating to agricultural literacy. State programs collectively leverage the Federal support by annually raising over $13 million to implement state programming. In order to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, I request $1,000,000 for the Agriculture in the Classroom Program.

Project: Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships
FY2010 Emerson Request: $3,000,000
Account: FNS
Recipient: Congressional Hunger Center
The Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Fellowship programs equip qualified young people with the skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to the effort to end hunger, both in the United States and around the world. To date over 500 young Americans have graduated from these programs, creating the vanguard of new anti-hunger leadership. In order to continue this anti-hunger work, I request $3,000,000 for the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship program administered by the Congressional Hunger Center.

Project: Crop and Aquaculture Losses in Southeast Missouri
FY 2010 Emerson Request: $400,000
Account: Wildlife Services/APHIS
Recipient: Department of Agriculture – APHIS – Wildlife Services
The Southeast Missouri Wildlife Services office is instrumental to the research, development, and implementation of methods to alleviate wildlife damage in the region. The wildlife problems addressed by this office have caused significant crop damage through flooding. In addition, municipalities in the area continue to suffer from the damage and health risks caused by large blackbird roosts. The work accomplished by this office has produced considerable economic savings to the area as well as addressing these health concerns. Even though no local matching funds is required, in Fiscal Year 2009 26 percent of the projects funding came from other sources. For the upcoming fiscal year, I am requesting $400,000 for crop an aquaculture losses in Southeast Missouri.

Project: FAPRI – Regionalized Implications of Farm Programs, MO, TX
FY2010 Emerson Request: $860,000
Account: CSREES
Recipient: Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute
The representative farms project helps shed light on current farm structure and changes in financial health resulting from various policy options. This process is accomplished by working with producers to determine the current structure of farms in a particular region. The information generated from this work allows FAPRI to provide Congressional decision makers with farm-level analysis of agriculture policy alternatives while debate is occurring, not six months after debate is over. In order to continue this work, I request $860,000 for the FAPRI-MU and Texas A&M; University partnership.

Project: Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute Core Grant, IA, MO
FY2010 Emerson Request: $2,000,000
Account: CSREES
Recipient: Food and Agriculture Research Policy Institute
FAPRI has provided analytical support to Congress since 1983. The need for alternative, objective analysis of complex issues involving numerous variables continues to be of critical importance to Congressional decision makers. As WTO negotiations continue and Farm Bill implementation begins, it is important that all decision makers, from the small offices of row crop farmers and dairymen to the offices of Congress and USDA, are armed with the hard facts and reliable analysis necessary to make difficult choices. Accordingly, I am requesting that funding for FAPRI at the University of Missouri be funded at $2,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2010.

Project:Midwest/Mid-South Irrigation, MO
FY2010 Emerson Request: $1,500,000
Account: ARS
Recipient: University of Missouri – Delta Center
The vast majority of the historic research on irrigation has been conducted in the arid West, where conditions remain constantly dry. However, sub-humid conditions in the Midwest and mid-South are much more variable. Irrigation recommendations based upon research data obtained in the arid West are not always applicable to farming conditions in the Midwest and mid-South.
The Midwest and mid-South is by far the fastest-growing irrigation area in the U.S. Many of the traditional irrigation states are actually losing irrigated acreage. However, average irrigated yields in the Midwest and mid-South are lower than potential yields for irrigation. For example, the average irrigated corn yield in Missouri from the last two USDA/NASS surveys was 142 bushels per acre. The Texas irrigated yield was 170 bushels per acre. This research will identify regional problems which reduce yield and find solutions to overcome these problems.
The University of Missouri is an ideal institution to conduct irrigation research that will benefit neighboring states in the mid-South and Midwest. To help solve the special problems encountered by irrigators in the Midwest and mid-South, I request $1,500,000 for the University of Missouri-Columbia to continue its partnership with ARS.

Project: Rice Agronomy, MO
FY2010 Emerson Request: $500,000
Account: CSREES
Recipient: University of Missouri – Delta Center
I respectfully request $500,000 for rice production research in southeast Missouri. The specific objective of the MU Rice Project is to develop production practices adapted to the Upper Mississippi Delta to maximize yield while protecting the environment. Research at the University of Missouri will fill the need for rice production technology adapted to this area. Three priority goals for rice research at MU have been identified: 1) develop and test crop rotation strategies, 2) develop and test new rice fertilizer systems, and 3) develop new rice irrigation management systems to minimize water use.
With this funding, the University of Missouri-Delta Center will be able to conduct numerous studies focusing on clay soil production systems, fertility of clay soils, pest management on clay soils, water use efficiency on common rice soils, rice cropping systems, and new technology including remote sensing and variable-rate application. As rice acreage expands in the region, it is imperative that research keeps growers on the cutting edge while conserving our water resources.

Project: Rural Policies Institute, IA, MO, NE
FY 2010 Emerson Request: $2,000,000
Account: CSREES
Recipient: Rural Policy Research Institute
RUPRI has developed an 18-year track record in providing unbiased, independent analysis and advice to policymakers. RUPRI has excelled at: conducting and commissioning timely policy and practice relevant research; developing, adapting and promoting support tools for decision makers; providing independent analysis, framing policy options and advice to policymakers; convening people and organizations around key issues; and disseminating information and ideas. To continue these efforts, I am requesting $2,000,000 for the Rural Policy Research Institute Core Grant in FY 2010.

Project: Soybean Cyst Nematode, MO
FY 2010 Emerson Request: $1,000,000
Account: CSREES
Recipient: University of Missouri – Delta Center
The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) has been and remains the most serious pest of soybeans in the U.S. About 80 percent of U.S. farmland planted to soybean is infested with SCN. Unlike any other soybean pathogen, the SCN can adapt, thrive, and damage the soybean plant wherever it can be grown. In 2006 alone, soybean producers nationally lost more than $804.6 million due to this pest.
The requested $1 million will enable the University of Missouri (MU) SCN research team to continue its path-breaking research and development of SCN-resistant soybean varieties. This team has attained national prominence for their SCN research, and the results of their research impact soybean production in all states where soybean is grown. Since 2000, the team has developed and released 17 soybean varieties with resistance to SCN, developed and released five soybean breeding lines resistant to SCN, and identified 118 soybean lines from the world collection of 16,000 lines that have SCN resistance. The genes responsible for SCN resistance in two wild soybean lines commonly used as parents when developing high-yielding SCN-resistant soybean varieties have been mapped by the MU team using molecular methods.

Project: Vitis Gene Discovery, MO
FY2010 Emerson Request: $791,735
Account: CSREES
Recipient: Missouri State University – Center for Grapevine Biotechnology
The Vitis Gene Discovery Program (VGDP) is a collaborative program among Missouri State University, the University of Missouri, and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The mission of the Vitis Gene Discovery Program at the Center for Grapevine Biotechnology of Missouri State University is to explore the genetic resources in wild grapevines for securing the profitability and sustainability of the grape and wine industry. The two major foci of research efforts are: (1) the innate ability of these plants to defend themselves against pathogens, and (2) their capacity to synthesize health-promoting metabolites.
For Fiscal Year 2010 the Center’s research would include but not be limited to: continued study of the disease resistance mechanisms of native grapevines at cellular and genetic levels; characterizing regulatory components and functions of candidate resistance genes; and developing strategies of producing virus-resistant grapevines. I would respectfully request $791,735 in Fiscal Year 2010 to complete a comprehensive set of research goals related to this on-going world-class research.

Project: Water Quality in Animal Grazing
FY 2010 Emerson Request: $500,000
Account: NRCS-Conservation Operations
Recipient: Missouri State University
The ecological co-existence of animals and the water supply is a delicate balance, especially in states like Missouri and in regions like the Ozarks. Finding ways to successfully co-exist is both challenging and vital. Missouri State University has proposed a research project focused on conserving water quality resources by developing and testing advanced animal grazing systems. This research project would positively impact agricultural practices in Missouri and at the same time improve water quality through the reduction of pollution from existing animal grazing practices. In addition, Missouri State University agriculture economists would measure the economic impact of the new practices established as a result of this research.
Efficiently managing the scarce and fragile Ozarks land base while simultaneously securing clean available water resources is one of the most pressing needs for the sustained population growth of southern Missouri. This project investigates efficient agricultural pasture and buffer systems to protect water quality resources, coupled with the economic impacts of the animal industries. For this project which is intended to encourage new opportunities for Missouri agriculture through beneficial farming practices, I request $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2010.