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Senators Klobuchar, Coleman, Secure Critical Funding for Minnesota Agriculture Projects

July 20, 2007

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) announced today that they were successful in securing federal funds for several agriculture and rural development initiatives in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2008. The full committee approved the bill today and will send it to the Senate floor for consideration by the full Senate.

“This funding is vital for the rural economy and the farm families of Minnesota,” said Klobuchar. “Minnesota’s farmers produce food for us all and this passage helps to ensure their continued success.”

“America enjoys a safe and abundant supply of food because our farmers work harder and work smarter those of any other nation, and in order to keep that competitive edge, our farmers need access to the best science available,” said Coleman.  “That’s why these appropriations projects are so critical – they provide our producers the tools they need to feed and fuel our nation and maintain our competitive edge in the global marketplace,” said Coleman.

Klobuchar and Coleman secured $198,000 for a Soybean Genomics research at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul. Soybeans grown in the Upper Midwest tend to have lower protein content than soybeans grown further south. These funds will support more research that is needed to identify genes that contribute to improved protein levels and soybean oil quality.  This project is a key priority for Minnesota’s soybean growers, and helps fund study’s that could drastically increase the productivity and income of farmers.
 
Minnesota’s Senators were also able secure $302,000 for Cereal Disease Research at the ARS Laboratory, in St. Paul. This funding will support research to improve small grains resistance to scab and rusts and reduce the economic losses caused by these diseases. During the 1990s, Cereal Disease devastated the wheat and barley crop in the Red River Valley, adversely affecting both yield and quality.

“The research being conducted at the U of M to control diseases in wheat, barley, and oats is vitally important to the producers of these crops. Farmers in the Red River Valley and southeastern Minnesota should benefit greatly from this continued research, and I am pleased to have helped secure the funding for it,” said Klobuchar.

“I am proud to say Minnesota’s innovative citizens are pioneering cutting edge technologies and practices in agriculture,” said Coleman.  “Soybean genomics and Cereal Disease research are two outstanding examples of how Minnesota know-how is leading U.S. agriculture to a brighter future.  I applaud the Senate Appropriations Committee for recognizing the needs of Minnesota agriculture by approving this funding.”

In addition, to the above funding, Senators Klobuchar and Coleman secured appropriations for the following projects:

• $295,000 for the Uniform Farm Management Project
Funds would to go the University of Minnesota’s Center for Farm Financial Management, which is creating a national database of farm financial information to help farmers make better management and business decisions. 

• $325,000 for Wild Rice Breeding and Germplasm Program at the ARS Laboratory, St. Paul, Minnesota
This program’s research addresses some of the most critical problems for wild rice producers: shattering resistance, disease resistance, germplasm retention and seed storage.  Wild rice is the only cereal grain native to North America.  Minnesota is the nation's 2nd largest producer of wild rice, with production concentrated near the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Indian Reseravation.

• $250,000 for the Midwest Poultry Research Program
The Midwest Poultry Consortium is an association of 13 poultry producing states, including Minnesota, whose mission it is to support poultry research programs at land grant universities in the Midwest.  Funds support research based on issues critical to Midwest poultry producers, such as food safety, animal health, waste management, and combating poultry diseases.

• Restore $1,356,000 for the National Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative
This project is important to combating scab (or fusarium head blight) that devastated the wheat and barley crop in the Red River Valley during the 1990s, reducing both production and quality.

• $600,000 for the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control
This program would protect and improve water quality in the Great Lakes by reducing soil erosion and controlling sedimentation through financial incentives, information, education and technical assistance.

• $650,000 for Wood Utilization Research Centers
This funding will help the forest products sector develop new products, new technologies, and new business systems to position Minnesota as a continued leader in wood products manufacturing.

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