"This bill promotes agricultural research and education activities, conservation programs and economic development in rural communities," Grassley said. "The funding will help key Iowa projects such as preservation of the Loess Hills in western Iowa and modernization of the National Animal Disease Center in Ames."
The bill provides $40 million to modernize the National Animal Disease Center in Ames. "Modernization of the lab is vital for the safety of animal agriculture in the United States. The Center is critical to meeting threats, especially outbreaks of animal diseases, which might arise in our livestock industry," Grassley said.
The legislation also appropriates funds for the preservation of the Loess Hills at an increase of $150,000 from the fiscal year 2001 level.
Following are additional items contained in the bill:
?$300,000 to implement the Certified Environmental Management Systems for Agriculture (CEMSA) in cooperation with the Iowa Soybean Association. CEMSA will be designed to assist producers to voluntarily adopt certifiable conservation plans and is expected to be implemented over a 3-year period at a total cost of $1 million with additional funds to be provided from non-Federal sources.
?$349,000 for the Ag Based Industrial Lubricant (ABIL) research program, located at the University of Northern Iowa. Since its beginnings in 1981, the research program has focused on expanding knowledge on the application of vegetable oils for industrial uses. The core of the UNI/ABIL mission is to develop and activate commercialization of soybean based industrial lubricants, and in doing so, create marketing opportunities for rural farm groups.
?$1.25 million for the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). Established by Congress in 1984, the project is jointly sponsored by Iowa State University and the University of Missouri. FAPRI provides continual service to Congress, executive branch agencies, farm and commodity groups, state governments, and trade groups. It is recognized as the nation's premier agricultural policy analysis unit. Over the past ten years FAPRI at Iowa State has published more than 100 comprehensive studies of U.S. and international agriculture, policy trends, and trade liberalization effects.
?$1.63 million for the Animal Science Food Safety Consortium. The goal of this consortium is to provide the tools and information needed to successfully implement soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reduction programs in order to lower the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, while providing income and incentives to farmers and improving the soil.
?$645,000 for the Midwest Agribusiness Trade Research and Information Center. The goal of the center is to provide agribusiness firms the tools to face technological changes taking place in the new economy.
?$190,000 for the Protein Utilization Initiative, located on the campus of ISU. The goal of the project is to add value to soybean proteins.
?$427,000 for the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. The goal of this initiative is to provide essential and effective agricultural trade analysis to policy makers.
?Continued funding for Little Sioux Watershed and Mosquito Creek Watershed, East Fork of the Grand River, Twelve Mile Creek, Twin Ponies, Troublesome Creek, West Fork of the Big Creek, Soap Creek parts 10 and 11, Mill Creek and Little River projects.
A House-Senate conference committee will now meet to reconcile the differences between the two versions of the appropriations bill.