(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator David Vitter announced that federal funding for several LSU Ag Center projects was included in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which passed out of the Appropriations Committee today.

“I am grateful that my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee understand the importance of the research conducted at the LSU Ag Center,” said Vitter.

Louisiana experiences one of the highest rates of coastal erosion in the world and developing a system for utilizing native vegetation to protect and restore eroding wetlands can be a big help in addressing the coast erosion problem. The bill also includes $563,000 for large-scale testing in the marsh of planting methods that will aid in coastal restoration.

The bill provides $329,000 for aquaculture research to enhance crawfish harvesting technology, to evaluate alternative catfish cultivation methods, to refine fish nutrition and feeding practices, to protect cultured aquatic species from disease and to develop new aquaculture food products and waste byproducts.

The bill also provides $425,000 for research at the Rice Research Station to develop conservation tillage systems for production, and refine cover crop and conservation tillage practices for cotton and corn, especially as they relate to management of damaging insects. Additionally an animal waste management component of the project will develop data and systems that allow proper use of waste products in the state.

Another $118,000 is included in the bill for research and development of strategies to combat the problem rice farmers face with blackbirds damaging their crops. Economic losses associated with blackbird damage have been estimated to average $9.3 million annually from 1995 to 2002.

The bill also directs U.S. Department of Agriculture to work with the LSU Ag Center in studying the best management and practices on improving water quality. The USDA will spend $400,000 on this project.

In addition, the bill provides $230,000 to split between North Dakota and Louisiana for development of the Sustainable Economic Development Institute as part of the USDA Rural Development program. Louisiana’s portion of the funding will go toward a center that will generate research findings and outreach programs that will help policy-makers, resource managers, community leaders and other stakeholders to promote and facilitate sustainable economic development activities throughout Louisiana.

“While this is only the first step in the legislative process, it is an important one for securing funding for these projects,” Vitter said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues to see that this funding for the LSU Ag Center is included in the final bill.”

The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill is expected to move to the Senate floor for a vote later this year.