Johanns Announces $5.3 Million in Air Quality Grants

JOHANNS ANNOUNCES $5.3 MILLION IN AIR QUALITY GRANTS

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2006 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced today that 11 educational institutions will be awarded $5.3 million to conduct air quality research that focuses on reducing emissions and odor levels due to agricultural operations.

"Protecting our natural resources and environment is a central mission of USDA," said Johanns. "This research funding will advance air quality related sciences to develop additional tools and practices that will help farmers and ranchers to maintain viable operations, while improving air quality."

Johanns made the announcement in remarks to a meeting of the USDA Air Quality Task Force. The announced funding is part of USDA's overall air quality program and marks the third year of funding, bringing the total research investment in these initiatives to $15.4 million. The awards are administered through USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), whose air quality program focuses on developing emission data for agricultural production practices. Funded projects include measuring ammonia emissions from crop canopies by North Carolina State University and the University of Illinois, while the University of Iowa and the University of California Davis will research modeling gaseous emissions from animal housing facilities.

The program also seeks to increase knowledge about the measurement, control, fate and transport of odor, gases and particulate matter. The research and outreach program aims to help regulatory authorities develop permit options for agriculture producers under the Clean Air Act. Outreach activities include educating producers and the regulatory community about technologies and best practices to lessen the production and transport of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

The fiscal 2005 grants are being awarded to the following institutions:

* North Carolina State University, two awards totaling $999,627.
* Texas A&M University, $499,259.
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, $499,531.
* West Texas A&M University, $99,320.
* University of Iowa, $405,753.
* Washington State University, $459,714.
* The University of Chicago, $382,401.
* University of California-Davis, $498,741.
* University of Illinois, $499,995.
* University of Maryland, $465,116.
* University of Minnesota, $484,284.

CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well being, and communities by supporting research, education and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations. For more information, visit http://www.csrees.usda.gov.

See Also: http://www.usda.gov/2006/03/0060.xml

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