The conference report before us reauthorizes various agriculture research programs at landgrant colleges and universities through 2002. In addition. it provides for $600 million over five years for a new competitive grants program for research in key areas such as agricultural genome. food safety. nutrition. new and alternative uses of agricultural commodities and products. biotechnology. natural resource management. and farm efficiency. This bill also contains important provisions which authorize funding for crop insurance. rural development. and to restore food stamps to certain legal immigrants. The critics of S. 1150 most often question the costs of the various provisions included in the conference report. However. it is important to note that our investment in agricultural research provides a tremendous return to our economy. generating economic growth and tax revenue through increased agricultural productivity.
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