10/09/08 USDA awards specialty crop research funds

Washington Ag October 9, 2008 Washington State University is receiving 3.3 million dollars from the USDA through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative created by the 2008 Farm Bill. The federal dollars must be matched 100 percent by non-federal funds. One research project getting money is to enhance biological control to stabilize western orchard IPM systems. WSU also received planning grants to seek future specialty crop research funding for biodegradable specialty crop covers and optimizing white wine quality through plant nutrient management. The Washington State Department of Agriculture also recently announced that ten Washington organizations will receive federal assistance to enhance the competitiveness of fruit, vegetable and horticultural products through the USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. WSDA spokesman Jason Kelly says the department asked ag organizations for proposals on how to best use the 324-thousand dollars in federal funding. Kelly: "And we had ten projects kind of float to the top so we are proud that USDA has approved our grant application in full. So each of the top scoring projects will be getting some significant funding under the federal program." The recipients include WSU, the Apple, Fruit and Potato Commissions, Northwest Agriculture Business Center, Pear Bureau Northwest and Pacific Coast Cranberry Foundation. I'm Bob Hoff.