FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 5, 2009

CONTACT: Boston Press, 617-565-8519

BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy today announced that the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill passed the Senate yesterday afternoon by a vote of 80 to 17. The bill includes a total of $650,000 for three critical Massachusetts agricultural projects.

“This investment will fund research into one of the nation’s fastest growing health epidemics, protect our state’s cranberry farmers who grow the largest crop in the world and conserve some our state’s most important ecosystems,” said Senator Kerry. “It will improve health and protect jobs.”

 "These funds will make a significant difference in advancing research on obesity, protecting the health and sustainability of our state's important cranberry crop, and promoting our goals of conservation, and I'm grateful to my colleagues for supporting our requests," Senator Kennedy said.

The bill now heads to a Conference with the House of Representatives.

The following projects are included in the Senate bill:

Tufts University, Medford                   $350,000

Human Nutrition Research, ARS

The USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University is one of the nation’s premier institutions involved in obesity research. This funding would be used to cover inflationary costs of operating the facility. The goals of the obesity research project are to test the validity of the US Dietary Guidelines for preventing weight gain in American men and women, and to identify barriers encountered when trying to follow healthy diets and lifestyles. 

UMass Dartmouth                                   $160,000

Cranberry/Blueberry Research

These funds will allow scientists at UMass Dartmouth to assist cranberry farmers in increasing productivity, and to effectively control pests in a more environmentally sensitive manner.  It is essential that Massachusetts bogs become more efficient to remain competitive, and leveraging the talent and resources at UMass Dartmouth is key to assuring that this highly valued state industry remains viable. Massachusetts has a lower yield and a higher per-acre cost of production than other cranberry producing areas. 

UMass Amherst                                        $140,000

Ecological Conservation Initiative

UMass’ Ecological Conservation Initiative aims to safeguard and conserve Massachusetts’ forests, farms, water, air and natural beauty.  The Initiative advocates a two prong approach to conservation.  It begins with data driven decisions on land that should be a priority for conservation and then uses a grassroots strategy to encourage local land owners to consider conservation rather than development use for their land should they sell.