It will be critical for the upcoming farm bill to include significant federal funding for agricultural research, Nebraska’s five-member congressional delegation said during a visit to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus on June 19.
U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, who hosted the visit to campus, said his “No. 1 priority” in representing Nebraska’s 1st District was securing federal funding for major U.S. Department of Agriculture research facilities planned for Nebraska Innovation Campus. The center, which will focus on precision agriculture and water, climate and resilience, will boost the number of USDA agricultural scientists in Nebraska to 150, up from the current 63.
The university will complement the USDA research center with an agricultural innovation facility on Innovation Campus facilitating the conversion of ag research into products and services, plus a business incubator.
During their visit to East Campus, the lawmakers — Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, Reps. Flood, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith — heard presentations on Husker research initiatives in fields such as ag-related robotics and precision agriculture, plant science and animal science innovations, and the advances made possible through on-farm research. They were briefed on the importance producers place on information from the National Drought Mitigation Center, located at the university.
Ted Carter, president of the University of Nebraska system, welcomed the lawmakers during a lunch of brisket and sausage prepared and processed by Husker meat science students. “Today’s grand challenges around agriculture have never been more urgent or more complex,” underscoring the enduring importance of the university’s agricultural research, he said.
Mike Boehm, vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, noted that the U.S. lags well behind in government funding for agricultural research compared with China and the European Union.
Source: unl.edu
Photo Credit: istock-ekkasit919
Categories: Nebraska, General