Senate Commitee Supports Idaho Ag Research

WASHINGTON, D.C.--The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2007 Agriculture and Related Appropriations bill to provide funding for agricultural programs around the country. Idaho Senator Larry Craig, a member of the committee, said the Committee's support of a number of programs important to Idaho and Idaho farms include three programs to receive new or increased funding. The Billingsley Creek Aquaculture Facility ($2 million)-- Funds will be used for construction of a state-of-the-art cool and coldwater aquaculture research at the University of Idaho's facility near Hagerman, Idaho. This project received $1 million in FY2006. The Little Wood River Irrigation District Gravity Pressure Delivery System ($250,000)-- The irrigation district serves the area around Carsy, Idaho, and will use the funds to begin converting their system from an open calan gravity deliver system to a closed gravity pressurized delivery system. Key advantages include an energy savings of 7,740 mwh/year, a 30 percent savings in water usage on irrigated cropland, and eliminating the need for potable water use for in-town landscape watering. Soybean and Wheat Stem Rust Research at Aberdeen ($400,000)--Research will be conducted at the Agriculture Research Service Station in Aberdeen, Idaho, on slaying stem rust in soybeans and wheat. For information on all the projects Senator Craig has supported in annual appropriations bill since fiscal year 1998, visit Senator Craig's Idaho Initiatives report at http://craig.senate.gov/idinit.htm.