Congressman Barney Frank
Representing Massachusetts' 4th District

Funding for Cranberry Research Advances in the House
July 9, 2009

Congressman Barney Frank today announced that funding for two local agriculture projects has been approved in the House.  The funding is part of a larger bill, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 (H.R. 2997), which passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 266-160. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.

In the bill, $111,000 is allocated for research on weed and pest control in cranberry cultivation.  In recent years, pesticides have become less effective and crop yields have suffered.  The research will be conducted at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth and its Wareham, Massachusetts cranberry research station.

The second earmark directs $423,000 for conservation measures in connection with cranberry production in Massachusetts and Wisconsin.  The funds will help support cultivation methods which protect water quality, prevent soil erosion and manage the use of pesticides.

The Senate must approve the bill and it must be signed into law by the President before the funding is released.  However, today’s vote is a major step toward achieving that goal.

“I am pleased that I was able to convince my House colleagues of the importance of this research on the cranberry industry,” said Congressman Frank.  “I know that Senators Kennedy and Kerry will continue to do their usual good work and that they will help make sure this funding appears in the final bill.”