Late Thursday, the House debated and later passed the Fiscal Year 2008 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill.  In that measure, Ross successfully restored a combined $3,002,023 in research funding to benefit the Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center.  

“I am proud to have restored funding for these important research projects that benefit the Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center in Booneville,” Ross said.  “Despite budgetary constraints in our federal government, I am committed to fighting for critical federal dollars that support our research facilities which are vital to our economy in Arkansas, and critical to our nation because of the enormous contributions they make to our agriculture infrastructure.”    

The President requested $1,800,000 million in funding for the Center in his Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal, which Ross fought to keep in tact.  However, the President did not choose to fund two important research initiatives which are vital to the Center’s ongoing research. 

Of the two projects Ross helped restore was $1,935,612 for the Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center to perform research and development of new technologies.  The research program will assist small farms by increasing the use of poultry litter as fertilizer and also developing new management practices to increase the quality and safety of cattle while helping small farms be more profitable. 

Ross also secured $1,066,411 which sustains important Endophyte Research at the Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center.  Ross said the funds will provide researchers the opportunity to help cure major health disorders that cost U.S. farmers annually in losses. The research in Booneville will impact farmers from Oregon to Georgia and significantly benefit rural farming communities in which agriculture is the backbone of their economy.

Ross pledged his support to continue fighting for these important projects as this annual spending measure moves through the appropriations process.

Upon passage of the Fiscal Year 2008 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill in the Senate, the measure will then go to a Conference Committee of House and Senate members who will work to combine both Chambers’ bills to form a Conference Report. Upon passage of the Conference Report by the full House and Senate, the final bill will then be sent to the President to be signed into law.

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