Herb Kohl: “I am pleased that funding is provided through this bill for the ARS Integrated Farming Systems Program, to pursue…”

“I am pleased that funding is provided through this bill for the ARS Integrated Farming Systems Program, to pursue long-term research on farming systems that integrate livestock and resource enhancing crop rotations--all aimed at answering farmers urgent questions of how to be profitable and farm in environmentally responsible ways. This new initiative, as requested by the President's fiscal year 1997 budget, recognizes expertise in the farming community by building research partnership teams with State researchers, extension agents, farmers, and nongovernmental organizations. In this regard, Wisconsin has a nationally recognized program, the Wisconsin Integrated cropping systems trial, with long-term research trials and an excellent team of farmers, researchers, extension and nongovernmental groups collaborating to address questions that go right to the heart of the future of farming in the Midwest. As specified in the committee report accompanying this bill, $500,000 has been included in this bill to support research through the ARS/IFS Program into integrated low-input crop and livestock production systems, to be carried out at the Wisconsin-Madison Experiment Station. It is my intent and understanding that this funding is to support the Wisconsin Integrated cropping systems trial.”