Earmarks: Agriculture

Wheat Crop Research
Purpose: for wheat biotechnology and plant breeding programs and infrastructure in western Nebraska focused on the development of novel varieties with improved drought and heat stress tolerance and value-added traits.
Amount Requested: $900,000
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Taxpayer Interest: Wheat is a water-efficient crop largely grown for direct human consumption, rather than as animal feed, and it is a major crop in western Nebraska with the potential to gain acreage and importance throughout the state and region as we face potential changes in climate and water availability. As water and food scarcity become global challenges with the expected 40 percent population increase and doubling of food demand by 2050, wheat will gain in importance, and the Federal government is recognizing these critical food and water challenges with proposed new programs in U.S. agricultural research. This project will establish a unique, nationally recognized production-scale wheat biotechnology research site that will enable development of varieties better adapted to such changes, increase the likelihood of investment in Nebraska by industry and federal research agencies and provide state-of-the-science training for Nebraska students.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• JB Milliken, President, University of Nebraska
Letter in support of earmark:
• Zoe Olson, Executive Director, The Nebraska Wheat Growers Association
• Michael Sullivan, member of the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association
• Dan Hughes, Chair of Nebraska’s Wheat Board
• Royce Schaneman, Executive Director, Nebraska Wheat Board

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Research Facility
Purpose: for construction of a UNL / Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Research Facility on the UNL campus.
Amount Requested: $60,560,000
Pending Amount Earmarked: $4,000,000
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Taxpayer Interest: Agriculture is expected to provide almost 40-percent of the nation’s liquid fuels within 30 years, while still producing food and fiber for our nation and the world. Increased research on bioenergy crops and water resources management is critical to meeting these goals, as recognized by the current administration’s emphasis on second generation biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass, and federal programs such as the joint USDA-DOE Biomass Research and Development Initiative. The research that will occur at this facility directly addresses the production of second generation biofuels and conservation of the soil and water resources that will produce these fuels
Letter requesting the earmark:
• JB Milliken, President, University of Nebraska
Letter in support of earmark:
• Lisa Lunz, Chairman, Nebraska Soybean Board
• Bob Kremer, Chair, Nebraska 25x25 Steering Committee
• Doug Johnson, Commercial State Bank
• John Dvoracek, Chairman, Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board
• Michael Jacobson, President, Agriculture Builders of Nebraska
• Royce Schaneman, Executive Director, Nebraska Wheat Board
• Bill Rishel, President, Nebraska Cattlemen
• Rod Gangwish, Rod Gangwish Farms

Support Research at the National Drought Mitigation Center
Purpose: for the nationally and internationally recognized National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL to continue research, outreach and training activities associated with drought monitoring, planning, and mitigation.
Amount Requested: $600,000
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Taxpayer Interest: predicting, mitigating and managing drought across the country

Additionally, Senator Nelson asked the Appropriations subcommittee to support the President’s budget request with respect to two programmatic items:

Regional Biofuels Feedstocks Research and Demonstration Centers

Senator Nelson is supporting the President’s initiative to establish 5 centers within the Agricultural Research Service at USDA. Senator Nelson has had many conversations with Secretary Vilsack about the need to encourage and foster robust research in the area of biofuels development in particular and this initiative appropriately adds to the research capacity at USDA.

The President requested $10 million to stand up these centers and ARS has indicated their preference that one of the centers be located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln which is good news and makes a great deal of sense due to the subject matter experts on campus who have a long history researching biofuel development.

Rural Microenterprise Investment Program

Senator Nelson introduced the idea for this program as part of the most recent Farm Bill. The program was included in that legislation and as USDA prepares to roll out the program, Senator Nelson is supporting the President’s budget request for slightly over $11 million which will be administered by USDA as loans and competitive grants, providing lending and technical assistance in order to stimulate microenterprise development in rural communities.

Updated: October 2010