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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Agriculture Conference Report that includes his request for funding for Rutgers University agricultural research projects and gypsy moth suppression program. The conference report reconciled differences between the House and Senate appropriations bills that were passed earlier this year. The final report now goes to the President's desk for his review and signature.
The New Jersey congressman, whose district includes Rutgers University, requested the agricultural funding for the programs in a letter to members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture last year.
Blueberry and cranberry research in New Jersey will receive $550,000 in federal funds from special research grants for the Rutgers Blueberry and Cranberry Research Extension Center.
Pallone said research at the Center is aimed at developing technology to reduce pesticide use in the culture of these two crops and reducing the impact of their production on the environment. These types of crop and technological research are especially important in accommodating continued agricultural production near environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands, where these crops must be grown.
“Agriculture is a major component of the New Jersey economy,” Pallone said. “New Jersey ranks first in the nation in fresh market blueberry production and third in cranberries. This funding will benefit our farmers and our state's economy."
The appropriations bill also includes $500,000 for a gypsy moth suppression program. The gypsy moth is a harmful insect pest of shade and forest trees. In 2008, New Jersey saw some of the heaviest damage from gypsy moth caterpillars in nearly two decades. Aerial surveys showed that nearly 340,000 acres of residential and forested areas sustained a loss of 50 percent or more of leaf canopy and tens of thousands of acres were completely defoliated. This was the largest outbreak since 1990, when 431,200 acres were defoliated.
The gypsy moth suppression program is a cooperative effort between local governments, the Department of Agriculture, New Jersey State Forest Service and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, with the goal of protecting forested-residential areas and parks from tree loss until the natural balance is restored.
The funds will be used to:
- Cost share aerial treatments borne by local municipalities;
- Develop a web-based interactive online map showing the distribution of gypsy moth in New Jersey and proposed treatment areas; and
- Provide technical support to municipalities through additional state program staff (field scouts) and vehicles.
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