Rep. Mike Flood, U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 1st District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Mike Flood, U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 1st District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Congressman Mike Flood presented testimony today before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. His focus was the collaborative efforts between the USDA and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) at the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture.
Flood's testimony emphasized the importance of continued investment in precision agriculture, noting, “I would like to call to your attention to a project that should be very familiar to the Subcommittee, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture.” The Congressman acknowledged the Subcommittee's past funding efforts for the project, including appropriations totaling $72.2 million over recent fiscal years.
The first construction phase of the center is scheduled for Spring 2024 and will involve the development of a greenhouse and headhouse space. A subsequent phase requires additional funds for a comprehensive laboratory and office building on Nebraska Innovation Campus, intended for agroecosystem management and research on wheat, sorghum, and forage production, along with new units focused on water, climate, and resilience.
Flood highlighted Nebraska's leadership in precision agriculture, referencing a GAO report indicating the state ranks second nationally with 55% of producers utilizing such technologies. The initiative continues efforts started by Flood's predecessor, Jeff Fortenberry.
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