Idaho Ag, Energy Projects Clear Funding Hurdle

Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch say research efforts involving energy and agriculture in Idaho have fared well this week as the Senate Appropriations Committee made funding recommendations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 spending measures. Funding for the projects still must clear the full Senate and be approved by a conference committee with the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The research and technology development conducted in Idaho in the energy and agricultural fields is truly world-class," Crapo said. "That work is a big reason why our state is well-recognized for its leadership in several research programs. All Idahoans can be proud of our contributions to agriculture, nuclear energy, and the environment."

"Much of this funding supports activities that are national in scope. Solutions found through this research will benefit many throughout the country and we can be proud that world-class research is conducted here in Idaho," said Risch.

A number of proposals brought by Crapo and Risch were approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, including the following:

• Idaho National Laboratory: Idaho Cleanup Project, $65 million; Idaho Facilities Management, Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), $12.7 million; Gen IV, LWR Sustainability program, $10 million

• ISU Accelerator Center in Pocatello, $1.5 million

• Rural Idaho environmental infrastructure projects, $2 million, including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Paradise Creek and other Corps projects

• Rangeland Ecosystem Dynamics (Owyhee Initiative science center), $300,000

• Potato Cyst Nematode national eradication efforts, $8.327 million

• Potato Research, $1.037 million

• Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, $650,000

• Wood and Biomass Forest Utilization efforts in ten states, including Idaho, $4.841 million

• Barley for Rural Development, Idaho and Montana, $547,000

• Small Fruit Research, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, $300,000

• Cool Season Legume Research, Idaho, North Dakota, Washington, $350,000

• Alternative Crops, national research funding, $850,000

• Tri-State Predator Control Program, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming $926,000

• Nez Perce Bio-Control Center, Idaho, $176,000.