USDA awards more than $12 million in water quality grants

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced Dec. 10 that a $550,000 grant has been awarded to the University of Arkansas to conduct research, education and extension programs aimed at improving the quality of the nation’s water resources. Twenty-one other institution also received grants totaling more than $12 million.

“The Bush Administration is committed to improving water quality,” said Veneman. “These grants will help control nutrient delivery from agricultural watersheds and educate consumers about safe drinking water practices.”

In addition, the funding will focus on the impacts of bacteria and pharmaceuticals on water quality and developing improved tools for decision-making through economic and policy analyses.      “These grants will not only help us to better understand rural water quality issues, but they will also assist USDA in developing implementation guidelines for rural areas,” said Mark Rey, agriculture undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment.

About $750,000 of the funds will be used to train Technical Service Providers who assist farmers and ranchers on nutrient and pesticide management issues related to water quality. TSP’s will help meet the growing demands on USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to provide technical service to support their conservation programs. The grants are administered by USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

For more information about the Water Quality Program, visit www.usawaterquality.org. Additional details are available from Michael O’Neill, National Program Leader for Water Quality, at moneill@csrees.usda.gov or 202-205-5952. For more information about conservation and Technical Service Providers, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.

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