Wes Hickman/Kevin Bishop
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Senate passed the Agriculture Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2004. The bill contains over $5 million for South Carolina related projects. Graham voted for the bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 93-1.
The bill provided funding for the following projects:
Upstate
- $303,000 to Clemson University to continue research to develop innovative pest control techniques.
- $260,000 to Clemson University research for peach tree short life research in southeastern orchards.
Pee Dee
- $300,000 increase to FY03 funding for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study of improved animal waste management in Florence. The ARS research station is investigating alternative treatments and techniques to respond to this major problem in swine production.
- The Senate bill instructs the USDA to continue funding the Cotton Genetics Research program in Florence with FY03 funding levels.
- The Senate bill instructs the USDA to continue FY03 funding for Swine Lagoon Alternatives Research in Florence to treat the waste on small swine farms at a reasonable cost while meeting stringent environmental regulations.
Lowcountry
- $3.5 million to the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston for the completion of greenhouse and headhouse construction.
- $300,000 increase to FY03 funding for research staff at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory Charleston. Additional scientists are necessary to conduct priority research and to maximize use of the facility.
Statewide
- $4,187,000 to study shrimp aquaculture in South Carolina and six other states.
- $800,000 for the continued development of a geographic information system database in South Carolina to integrate commodity and conservation program data at the field level for watershed analysis purposes.
“Agricultural is one of the cornerstones of South Carolina’s economy,” said Graham. “The farmers and researchers in our state are on the cutting edge of new technologies that will help feed America and the world for generations to come.”
The bill will now go to conference with the House of Representatives.
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