Washington DC  -  Late this afternoon, Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) joined members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture in supporting passage of a FY 2004 agriculture spending bill that provides just over $17 billion in funding for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Emerson, who is a member of the subcommittee stated, “This bill does an excellent job of addressing many of the needs facing our farmers and ranchers who live and work in rural America.  However, much work remains to be done and we aren’t through yet.  I am hopeful that once this process is complete, we can adequately fund projects and programs that are critical to the well being of the agricultural economy.”

 

The appropriations measure included funds for a number of projects related to Missouri agriculture.  Those projects include funds for three research projects at the Delta Center in Portageville: $689,000 for the Soybean Cyst Nematode research, $199,000 for a Rice Agronomist, and $350,000 for Mid-West/Mid-South Irrigation research.  In addition, the bill contains $300,000 to curb crop and aquaculture losses caused by a variety of bird and animal species.

 

In closing, Emerson applauded the inclusion of a provision relating to Country of Origin Labeling, “I am very pleased with the inclusion of this funding limitation.  While this provision won’t fix the problems associated with mandatory labeling, it will slow the process down and allow us to take a closer look at the potential impacts to producers and consumers.”  The provision prohibits USDA from using funds to implement mandatory labeling of meat and meat products.  The mandatory labeling rules were scheduled to take effect September 20, 2004.