Feenstra, Iowa Delegation, Governor Reynolds Call for USDA Agricultural Research Service Projects to be Relocated to Ames as part of USDA Reorganization
HULL, IOWA – This week, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull), alongside U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA), and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds called on U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to relocate Agricultural Research Service (ARS) projects to Ames as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ongoing reorganization plan.
Ames currently has one of the largest concentrations of USDA facilities and employees outside of Washington, D.C. The lawmakers and governor wrote that the move would benefit farmers, producers, and families nationwide.
“Iowa serves as a prime location with its unmatched production of food and fuel. Our state has 35.7 million acres of land, more than 85% of which is used for agriculture. Iowa leads the nation in production of corn, soy, swine, beef, biofuels and more. Located in Ames, Iowa State University (ISU) works closely with the USDA, providing the agency with high-performance computing services to federal researchers,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Many of the studies conducted at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center [located in Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.] align with Iowa State University and the Agricultural Research Service’s efforts, including soybean genomics, hydrology and remote sensing, animal genomics, animal biosciences and biotechnology, adaptive cropping systems and bee research,” the lawmakers continued.
“As the heart of our nation and a leading agriculture producing state, Iowa brings firsthand knowledge and real-world experience to the USDA. To put it simply, Iowa knows agriculture and would contribute unparalleled opportunities for the agency. We...urge you to bring USDA ARS projects to Iowa’s fields to benefit farmers, producers and families nationwide,” the lawmakers concluded.
The full letter can be read HERE.
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