Utah Ag projects get more than $16 million; USU gets several grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Senate Appropriations Committee approved over $16 million for Utah projects requested by Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) as a part of the fiscal year 2009 spending bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Investing in innovative agricultural research in Utah will lead to better management of our food and water resources and a greater understanding of how to protect our crops and wildlife,” said Bennett, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. “USU is a leader in the agricultural field and these funds will help the university continue to develop groundbreaking research projects that benefit Utah and the West.”
Of the $16.1 million Bennett successfully requested for Utah, $11.38 million is designated for agriculture research and a new high-tech facility at Utah State University (USU).
Below are USU projects included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Additional Utah projects are listed after the USU projects.
Agriculture Research Center – $5.5 million
This funding will support the planning, designing, and preliminary stages of construction for a new USU facility that will enable the university to be the leader of agriculture research in the West. The proposed Agriculture Research Center will provide space needed to enhance collaborative opportunities between USU faculty, USDA and Agriculture Research Service researchers. The state-of-the-art, high-tech facility will replace outdated agricultural science facilities and connect researchers to three different labs on campus.
Research and Education Outreach at the Utah Botanical Center – $670,000
The Utah Botanical Center serves as a regional learning and research center to promote natural resource conservation. The $670,000 will help fund research to support production of low water-use plants in sustainable landscapes for high-desert environments. Over the last five years, Bennett has garnered over $3.8 million to continue this important research.
Drought Management Initiative – $670,000
Utah and the Intermountain West experience periodic droughts that severely limit water supplies, damage agriculture products and threaten economic growth. This initiative seeks to develop accurate predictions of water yield and improve agricultural irrigation and management of urban water demand. Last year, Bennett secured $670,000 for the initiative.
Predator Ecology Research Station at the Wildlife Research Center – $1.03 million
This project continues research on large predators in Utah and the Intermountain West and how they affect the livestock industry. The Wildlife Research Center is located in Millville, Utah. Bennett has secured $2.38 million over the last two years for the center.
U.S./China Joint Biotechnology Research Programs – $447,000
In collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Xiamen University and the Northwest Sci-Tech University of Agricultural and Forestry of the People’s Republic of China, USU will develop joint research programs in agricultural biotechnology, including infectious diseases, livestock cloning and genetics, crop production, and irrigation. The funding will be used for professional exchange, intensive short courses, training, and internships to promote greater economic and agricultural development in the U.S. and China. In fiscal year 2008, Bennett obtained $447,000 for this joint research partnership.
Center for Public Lands and Rural Economies – $223,000
The center conducts research on the impact public land ownership has on rural communities and their ability to meet other budgetary demands like health care and education. Funding will be used for research materials, publication costs, and travel to 19 Utah counties. Bennett has secured over $920,000 in the past five years for the project.
Biotechnology and Genomics Research Program – $1.19 million
These funds will support USU research that examines how organisms interact with their environment by extracting information from existing plants, animals, and microbes genome sequences. Bennett has secured over $5.1 million for the project since fiscal year 2004.