A variety of WSU’s agricultural research programs across the state, as well as the College of Nursing and a groundbreaking methamphetamine treatment research program in Spokane, will benefit from allocations laid out in the $410 billion omnibus federal spending bill signed into law last week by President Barack Obama.
Nearly $6.4 million is provided in the bill in support for WSU agricultural research benefitting a wide range of agricultural industries in the Pacific Northwest. It also includes an allocation of $2.1 million to the USDA Agricultural Research Service, which will be used in support of the construction of a planned, four-story, 86,400-square-foot research facility on the Pullman campus in partnership with WSU. The project is in the design phase.
Agricultural research emphases supported by the spending bill include water quality studies, organic farming research, barley gene mapping, grain legume genetics physiology, sustainable grass seed cropping and perennial wheat studies.
The bill also provides $951,000 to support research intended to enhance the reliability and security of the nation’s electrical power grid to be led by WSU professor Anjan Bose in Pullman in partnership with Tacoma Power, Avista Corporation and the Bonneville Power Administration.
“We greatly appreciate the support of our senior senator, Patty Murray, Rep. Brian Baird and our entire congressional delegation in helping the university obtain this funding,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. “These projects are very vital to our efforts to provide the fundamental research that will support the economy and protect natural resources in our state and region.”
The College of Nursing will receive $1.047 million, which will be used to complete research laboratories and purchase research, instruction and communication equipment for the new building on the Riverpoint Campus in Spokane.
Also in Spokane, the WSU Research Center for the Study of Methamphetamine will receive $50,000.
Some additional research projects outlined in the appropriation include:
* $1.037 million to develop and commercialize new potato varieties that will directly benefit all segments of the Northwest potato industry and indirectly benefit all U.S. producing regions
* $529,000 in support of research related to the oyster and trout aquaculture industries in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the national need for an abundant and safe supply of seafood.
* $469,000 to develop science and technology to improve the competitiveness of agriculture in the U.S. and Pacific Northwest, solve technical problems that impede exports and affect national security, and develop new products, processes, technologies or strategies for increased agricultural exports.
* $444,000 to develop and implement economically viable conservation systems to reduce soil erosion and enhance water quality.
