In an effort to strengthen Pennsylvania's ailing agricultural economy, a local congressman has turned to Penn State.
Penn State's College of Agricultural Science will receive nearly $2 million in federal funding to support research programs as part of the 2009 Omnibus Appropriation Act, Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., announced last week.
Although Thompson's predecessor, Congressman John Peterson, originally requested the funding, Thompson said he was happy to relay the news.
He said the grant would not only serve Penn State and Centre County, but the entire commonwealth.
"We as a district and country cannot afford to lose our small family farms," Thompson said. "They are the backbone of our country."
Thompson, who is also a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, said the funding was of special interest to him because he sees the impact of farming in Pennsylvania, especially in the "rural" 5th District.
Bruce McPheron, director of the College of Agricultural Science's Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, agrees with Thompson. He said although the grant is an earmark -- which are usually passed without debate or notice -- and has been receiving some negative attention, he believes residents will "get a lot for their money."
"These are initiatives that really do benefit the community," he said.
The money will be divided into five major projects, which include education for small farmers, improvements to farm practices and profitability, milk safety research and a partnership with the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania to assist farmers with sustainable farming practices.
The projects were proposed by instructors within the college, McPheron said, and after faculty members made the proposals, they were sent to national experts for review.
"There were two key questions that we wanted to know," McPheron said. "One, if these projects were excellent science, and two, its relevance to today's problems."
Once the projects were deemed worthy, McPheron said the next step was to find the funding. McPheron said because these were special projects that would have statewide benefits, he felt comfortable asking for money from the federal government.
Within the five projects, researchers would examine how to regulate the gases from production work in farms, how to ensure milk supplies remain free of microbes that cause diseases, alternatives to pasteurization and the economics of using manure to generate energy. Additionally, the grants will help the university assist farmers with organic and sustainable research.
"The benefits of the research that will be completed would be experienced nationwide," Thompson said.
