IDAHO FOOD PRODUCERS STIMULATE ECONOMY

Washington, DC â??Idahoâ??s agricultural industry will benefit through funding advocated by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill, which was approved in the Senate Appropriations Committee today. The agriculture spending measure dedicates substantial resources to agriculture, rural development, and conservation research important to Idaho communities. â??Agriculture research is vital to the success of Idaho agriculture, and this legislation includes funding for much-needed research projects including potatoes, aquaculture, sugarbeets, viticulture, barley, legume, weed, pest and disease control,â?? said Crapo. â??It also increases resources for food safety and economic development that are essential to ensure the protection of our crops and livestock and the safety of our food supply.â?? Highlights in the Agriculture Appropriations bill include:â?¢$1 million for aquaculture research in Hagerman to develop grain-based products.â?¢$1.3 million for the Tri-State Predator Program for livestock protection. â?¢$569,000 for research such on peas, lentils and chickpeas.â?¢$6.2 million for the ten-state Inland-Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium Wood Utilization project.â?¢$863,000 for research to increase the shelf life of agriculture commodities.â?¢$764,000 for aquaculture research associated with fish health, and environmental issues.â?¢$250,000 to the College of Southern Idaho for three water irrigation pumps for irrigation. â?¢$150,000 for potato breeding research in Aberdeen.â?¢$1 million to the Greater Yellowstone Interagency to coordinate with federal, state and private interests for the elimination of brucellosis from wildlife in the Yellowstone area.â?¢$450,000 for viticulture research to further the wine and grape industry.â?¢$1.5 million to develop new potato varieties.â?¢$735,000 the development of new malt, feed and food barley varieties adapted to the West.â?¢$443,000 for small-fruit research to address problems with the Pacific Northwest small fruit industries.Other Idaho projects that received recognition through continued funding were:â?¢Funding for Sugarbeet irrigation and fertility research in Kimberly.â?¢Funding to the Nez Perce Bio-Control Center to manage and establish nurseries to increase biological control organisms used for noxious weed control.â?¢Funding for STEEP, a program to promote erosion and water quality control to enhance wheat production on reduced tillage systems.â?¢Funding to develop canola as a rotational crop and to develop new varieties of canola.â?¢Funding to develop new, environmentally friendly, and sustainable agricultural technologies for the grass seed industry.â?¢Funding for Regional Genome Mapping research.The bill will now go to the full Senate for consideration.