PEORIA, Ill. — It took a bipartisan effort from Illinois Congressional representatives – with help from the farm sector – to save the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Peoria “Ag Lab” from falling victim to cuts proposed in President Trump’s budget proposal.

 

World renowned for developing the mass production of penicillin during World War II, the USDA-ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria was selected for “entire location closure” as part of Trump’s proposed slashing of agricultural funding by 20 percent from the 2018 federal budget.

On July 12, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee averted the closure – which would have affected about 200 research and science workers and stalled ongoing projects to discover new and improved ways of using crop products – by approving funding for USDA research facilities, including NCAUR, in its fiscal year 2018 Agriculture Appropriations Bill.

The announcement came following an impassioned outcry from the agricultural community and Illinois lawmakers, including Rep. Darin LaHood, a Republican, Rep. Cheri Bustos, a Democrat, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, also a Democrat. Also speaking out against the shuttering of the Peoria Ag Lab were Gov. Bruce Rauner, Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, the Illinois Farm Bureau and many other local, state and regional civic and farm leaders. “Our community’s advocacy has truly paid off ... with the agriculture appropriations bill containing full funding for the Peoria Ag Lab,” said LaHood, a Peoria native and son of former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The USDA Research Lab in Peoria has accomplished incredible work over the years, which is why it was so critical that it receive the federal funding it needs to continue its work.”

LaHood also told news sources that instead of closing the Peoria ARS facility and the three other large regional USDA labs across the country, the government could consider shuttering some of the 12 smaller USDA ag labs and consolidate them into the regional labs.

“What I’ve said is, ‘Let’s consolidate some of those smaller labs, and move them to Peoria,’” LaHood told the Illinois News Network. “Instead of having 17 (smaller labs), let’s have six or seven, and consolidate down to the four regional labs.”

Bustos said fighting to grow the agricultural community in Illinois is one of her top priorities in Congress, and she was happy to cross the political aisle and work with LaHood to help save NCAUR.

“For decades, this lab has kept Peoria at the center of innovation in our agricultural economy – they’ve developed technology that has benefited our troops, our farmers and American consumers every single day. While our work is far from over, I’ll continue to fight to protect this lab from closure under President Trump’s budget,” she said.

Though NCAUR’s ongoing work in developing new utilities for soybean oil and other renewable crop products continues to benefit farmers the world over, its presence on North University Street in Peoria has been also been an important local provider of jobs, revenue and taxes for the city since its construction in the late 1930s.

This is according to Patrick Kirchhofer, manager of the Peoria County Farm Bureau, whose office window faces the massive NCAUR facility, across University Street. “Over the years the Peoria USDA Ag Lab has benefited farmers throughout the U.S. and especially Peoria’s local economy. Scientists are conducting research on farm commodities such as corn, soybeans and wheat, which are staples of revenue for Midwest farmers,” he said. “When scientists discover new or expanded uses for these farm commodities, that can translate to more demand and increased revenue to farmers.

“Discoveries to remedy crop diseases and insect infestations has potential to improve yields and also increase revenue.

Revenue to our farmers is redistributed in our rural and urban communities in the form of farm machinery purchases, and dollars spent on homes, vehicles, household appliances and other products and services.”

LaHood promised to join Bustos in ensuring the funding for NCAUR is maintained as Congress continues the budget appropriations process.