The consolidated appropriations bill (H.R. 4818) recently signed into law by President Bush itemized federal funding during fiscal year 2005 for several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Earlier this month, the National Turfgrass Federation noted that the bill contains new funding for turfgrass research - $275,000 in total – to be granted to two new research locations. The funding was added as a result of efforts by the turfgrass industry to inform Congress of its research needs and the importance of the National Turfgrass Research Initiative. More information on the National Turfgrass Research Initiative (NTRI) can be found at www.turfresearch.org.
Turfgrass research is now funded within USDA-ARS at $760,613. The breakdown of the funding is as follows:
• $485,613 - restored funding for the current research position at the U. S. National
Arboretum in Washington, D.C. This amount previously stood at about $490,000, though all programs were cut by 0.8 percent.
• $150,000 - new funding for turfgrass research at Beaver, W.V.
• $125,000 - new funding for turfgrass research at Logan, Utah
The Logan, Utah location will conduct research within Component I (Improvement of Water Management Strategies and Practices) and Component II (Collection, Enhancement and Preservation of Turfgrass Germplasm) of NTRI. Turfgrass research at Beaver, W.V. will fall under Component V (Enhancement of Soil and Soil Management Practices) of NTRI. The turfgrass industry will work with ARS in determining the research priorities at each location.
Due to last minute Congressional negotiations in resolving differences between House and Senate versions of the bill, the funding for W.V. and Utah turf research positions was reduced by one-half of what was in the original bill. However, considering many programs and agency budgets were reduced in this lean budget year, the National Turfgrass Federation and other organizations supporting turfgrass research note that they are fortunate to show an increase for federal turfgrass research and are thankful to activists and industry proponents who helped push the funding forward.