Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004

WINE GRAPE FOUNDATION BLOCK FUNDING

Mrs. MURRAY. Senator KOHL, in fiscal year 2003, Congress provided $150,000 to the Agriculture Research Service in
Prosser, WA, to help with the development of a foundation block of certified "clean" rootstock.

The rapid expansion of the Washington wine industry has raised concerns that new vineyards will use non-certified, diseased rootstock that could economically devastate the Washington wine industry.

I recently learned that ARS did not dedicate all of the fiscal year 2003 funding to this project, but other research projects as well.

The fiscal year 2004 Agriculture Appropriations bill provides $150,000 to ARS to continue this project. The intent of this project is clear and not subject to interpretation by ARS. I ask that the record reflect that this funding is to develop a wine grape foundation block. In addition, I ask that the conference report accompanying the agriculture bill include language directing ARS to allocate this funding in a manner consistent with congressional intent.

Senator KOHL, do you agree with the intent of this project?

Mr. KOHL. Yes, Senator MURRAY, I agree. Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. I will work in conference to do what I can to support your request and to include language in the final statement of managers.

Mrs. MURRAY. Thank you Senator KOHL for your support on this issue. This project is critical to the long-term health and viability of my State's wine grape growers and vintners.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Resource conservation is an essential element of our nation's agriculture programs that has proven to be very popular with farmers and ranchers. The incentives incorporated in programs such as the Farmland Protection Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, have not only heightened the awareness and value of good conservation practices, but they have made it possible for families to constitute limited production and be compensated for protecting fragile resources. The success of these programs is that family farms can retain their economic viability and continue to contribute to the stability of communities throughout the nation.

Conservation programs have touched on many fragile resources, but have not sufficiently encouraged the protection of the historic heritage that is embodied in historic buildings, structures, objects, and archaeological sites on farmland. Congress has declared that the spirit and direction of the nation is reflected in its historic heritage, and that the preservation of this heritage is in the public interest. Therefore, I believe we must work together to protect our common heritage embedded on these private lands.

Senator KOHL, today I am requesting a report to the U.S. Congress from the United States Department of Agriculture evaluating their conservation programs under the Natural Resources Conservation Service and all other USDA county-based farm agencies with the objective of determining what affirmative and programmatic actions are being taken to conserve and protect archaeological and historical resources on agricultural lands. Furthermore, this report should also provide or suggest new methods or program modifications to the conservation programs which will increase the protection of historical and archaeological resources on agricultural lands and help determine the manner in which these type of lands can be included
within the overall goal of natural resources protection.

Finally, I am requesting that this report be completed within 120 days of enactment of the Fiscal Year 2004 Agriculture appropriations bill.

Senator KOHL, will you support this request and work towards its inclusion in the final conference report of the fiscal year 2004 Agriculture appropriations bill?

Mr. KOHL. Senator NELSON, I appreciate you bringing this matter to my attention. I will work to include this provision during conference negotiations of this bill.