WASHINGTON ‑ Today, the Senate and House conference committee approved the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Senator Kohl worked to defend significant funding for agricultural research with emphasis on competitive agricultural research grants across the nation.  Kohl is the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.                 

"Research is the key to progress and this bill provides research opportunities and funding so Wisconsin can continue to be a leader in agriculture," Kohl said.                     

The bill includes roughly $2.8 billion for USDA research agencies. The primary agricultural research agencies, the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, receive $1.25 billion and $1.34 billion respectively. Included in these sums is an increase of nearly $61 million for competitive agricultural research grants under the Agriculture Food Research Initiative.              

Kohl also secured funding to promote specific research in Wisconsin.  

$2.5 million for Dairy Forage Research Center, Marshfield - These resources would pay salaries and expenses related to research at the Dairy Forage Research Center in Marshfield, WI.  The research conducted by this unit of ARS is aimed at improving the efficiency and environmental impact of dairy farming in the United States.  

$4 million for Dairy Forage Research, Prairie du Sac - These resources would be set aside for future construction of the next installment of ARS Dairy Forage Research Center in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.  The research conducted by this unit of ARS is aimed at improving the efficiency and environmental impact of dairy farming in the United States.  

$892,000 for Conservation Technology Transfer, University of Wisconsin Extension - These resources are used in collaboration with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, UW Extension, and local stakeholders to perform research, demonstration and education activities on working farms that help land managers adopt more effective conservation practices which manage nutrients and prevent runoff.  

$400,000 for the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, UW-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - These resources will be used to expand teaching, applied research and outreach on sustainability.  The central objective is to help farmers manage their land and production in ways that align best practices with emerging energy opportunities and sustainability challenges.  

$376,000 for Urban Horticulture, University of Wisconsin Extension - These funds support education in urban horticulture and the development of new community food centers.  In collaboration with Growing Power, Inc. (a non-profit organization and land trust) they support training for volunteers who develop models for local food systems across the nation.  

$350,000 for Specialty Markets and Strengthening State Meat Inspection, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection - The 2008 Farm Bill included provisions to allow interstate commerce in state-inspected meat products.  In this era of concentrated cattle processing, new markets are critical for producers.  With nearly 300 state-inspected processing plants, Wisconsin entrepreneurs are poised to meet growing demand for local and domestic specialty meat products.  These resources will be used to augment food safety excellence and training, provide technical assistance for market and business planning, and assist processors with packaging, label development, and marketing distribution.  

$2 million for Dairy Market Development – Value Added Dairy Initiative, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection - This funding supports the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture's Value Added Dairy initiative to help restore and reinvigorate Wisconsin's dairy sector through modernization of dairy farms, increased production of higher-value products, increased recognition of Wisconsin's dairy products in consumer markets, enhanced supply chain management and innovative dairy partnerships.  Collaborators in this effort include the non-profit Dairy Business Innovation Center, the University of Wisconsin, Extension Service, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin State Department of Commerce, and the Wisconsin Technical College System.  

$120,000 for Conservation Internships, Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association - These resources support an internship program to give college students embarking on natural resource careers real world experience in natural resource management.  

$835,000 for Grazing Land Conservation Initiative, United States Department of Agriculture - This funding supports research, on-farm demonstrations, education and technical services to support producers wishing to switch to a grazing system or enhance their existing systems.              

The bill also supports $4.8 billion in farm ownership and farm operating loans through the Farm Service Agency.    

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