Congressman’s Position on House Appropriations Committee Results in over $8 Million in Funding for Montana Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $8.387 million in agricultural funding for projects throughout the state, including $4.641 million for three separate efforts at Montana State University – Bozeman. Funding includes $3.654 million for the Animal Bioscience Facility, $305,000 for the development of a Brucellosis Vaccine and $682,000 for research into Sustainable Beef Supply. The funding was included in the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

"There are some very exciting projects at Montana State University that will have tremendous benefits for Montana’s number one economic sector," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "The state-of-the-art Animal Bioscience Complex at Montana State University will propel Montana to the forefront of technological advancement in agriculture, while work on a Brucellosis Vaccine and Sustainable Beef Supply continues to keep our products safe and marketable."

The construction of an Animal Biosciences Research Facility will benefit Montana’s livestock industry. This state-of-the-art facility will help improve economic and environmental sustainability in the production of safe, high quality and consistent beef products. Rehberg secured $2.192 million for this project last year.

"I appreciate the support of Congressman Rehberg and his effort toward ag research and education, in particular the range-livestock industry," said Jeff Jacobsen, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station. "The federal building monies bring us that much closer to construction of the USDA ARS building which will be ‘catching up’ to the MSU academic building currently being built through private donations. This partnership will create untold developments for the Montana seedstock industry and the livestock industry in general."

The presence of Brucellosis in the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park poses a continuous threat to livestock production in the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Recent outbreaks of brucellosis and the loss of Montana’s brucellosis-free status underscore the need for an effective brucellosis vaccine. This appropriation will have a tremendously positive impact on Montana’s cattle and tourism industries by funding MSU Bozeman’s efforts to find a brucellosis vaccine that protects both wildlife and cattle.

"Vaccine development takes time and we have made good advancements in creating new vaccines with stronger efficacy than currently available ones," said Jacobsen. "Better tools for disease management in wildlife, and livestock and humans will be the result."

The Montana Beef Network (MBN) helps Montana beef producers improve best-practices for raising and marketing their products. MBN also ages and source verifies calves from birth until harvest to ensure quality and increase profitability. This integrated approach to quality management helps Montana’s producers grow a sustainable beef supply to increase income for the individual and the State.

"Connecting ranch and livestock management practices to the entire meat supply chain with the customer, the consumer, in mind creates a modern and dynamic network," said Jacobsen. "Stewardship practices, quality assurance, biosecurity, animal ID, food security and other food system issues are researched, tested and outreach is provided tailored to each ranch."