Congress Approves $57 Million for Local Agriculture Priorities

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) has secured $57 million for local agriculture priorities in the federal spending bill for 2006 which was approved by the House of Representatives today.

“Agriculture is vital to the 1st Congressional District and contributes millions of dollars to our local economy each year,” Thompson said. “The programs funded in this bill will provide essential services to protect our crops from harmful pests and disease.”

The $57 million includes funding for the following projects:

·$42.6 millionâ€"Pierce's Disease, Research and Controlâ€"Pierce's Disease is a harmful plant virus, spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter. It was responsible for the complete destruction of more than 1,000 acres of grapevines in Temecula starting in the late 1990's that cost growers and the California economy tens of millions of dollars. The funding will be allocated to plant inspection programs and viticulture research institutions.

·$5.4 millionâ€"Sudden Oak Death, Research and Control â€"Sudden Oak Death is a fungus-like pathogen that has decimated oak trees and infected other plant species such as California's prized redwood trees. The disease has stricken at least 12 California counties and has spread to the Pacific Northwest. The funding is allocated between three different programs, $3. million for the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service, $2.3 million for the Agricultural Research Service and $93,000 for the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

·$7 millionâ€"Specialty Crop Grantsâ€"Specialty crops include: tree nuts, wine grapes, dried fruits, and nursery crops. The grant program will allow the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to promote the farming of specialty crops.

·$1.7 millionâ€"Olive Fruit Fly, Research and Control â€"The Olive Fruit Fly is the world's most destructive olive pest and has infested thousands of acres of olive groves throughout California, jeopardizing the state's important olive oil and table olive industries. $1.35 million will be allocated to the Agricultural Research Service and 320,000 will be allocated to the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service.

·$300,000â€"Broom Biological Control, Researchâ€"Broom and Gorse are foreign weeds that have infested areas in California, Oregon and Washington, causing economic and ecological damage. The funding will be used to develop biological control agents to eradicate these invasive weeds.

·$100,000â€"Ludwigia Controlâ€"Ludwigia is a plant that damages waterways and fosters mosquito populations which transmit the West Nile Virus. The funding will support scientific research to develop sustainable methods for managing the vegetation.

“Our communities' vigilance and our local education efforts have prevented the spread of sharpshooters and Pierce's Disease in our region,” Thompson said. “This continued federal funding will help build upon our local efforts and support important research into eradicating this potentially devastating winegrape disease.”

The Senate will pass the Agriculture Appropriations Bill next week and the President is expected to sign the legislation shortly thereafter.

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus.