Bush Proposes Full Funding for Ames Animal Lab

Mar/Apr 2004 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced on Jan. 13, 2004, the inclusion by President Bush in the FY 2005 budget of $178 million to complete the renovation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new National Center for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa.

The Ames complex is USDA's flagship laboratory for large animal research and diagnosis and includes the National Animal Disease Center, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and the Center for Veterinary Biologics.

"The request of the $178 million by the President would represent the final installment of $460 million needed to fully renovate these facilities," stated Veneman.

When complete, the facility will include almost 1 million square feet of thoroughly modern facilities that will be biosafe and energy efficient and provide for state-of-the-art capabilities for research and diagnosis.

In related news, recently announced federal funding for University of Kentucky (UK) research and outreach includes significant support for new crop opportunities, forage and livestock systems, health education, plant and animal genetics and an important partnership with USDA's Agricultural Research Service.

A total of $11.36 million will support a variety of projects involving several colleges at UK, but the largest portion -- $5.86 million - will go to programs administered by the UK College of Agriculture.

The funding includes $2.74 million to continue the development of a new research laboratory at the Lexington campus in cooperation with ARS. The new lab is being formed to improve the productivity, profitability, competitiveness and sustainability of forage-based enterprises. These programs include research to improve forage and livestock production in the state, as well as investigations of ways to improve animal health and prevent major diseases.

Other funded programs include $388,000 to examine health and productivity of grazing livestock and $663,000 for precision agriculture and resource management research.

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