Letter to the Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Administrator of the United States Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service - Urging to Prioritize and Support Critical Upgrades to Nematode Quarantine Laboratory
Letter
Dear Administrator Jacobs-Young:
I write to encourage the Agriculture Research Service to support upgrades to facilities and equipment in the Nematode Quarantine Laboratory used by ARS scientists co-located at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Design work will begin shortly on plans to renovate this lab, which plays a major role in helping New York farmers mitigate risk and increase production of high quality potatoes every year.
As you know, The Nematode Quarantine Facility at Cornell University, has been an important tool in preventing the spread of Golden Nematodes beyond New York for more than 60 years. Breeding, testing, and certification of nematode-resistant seed potatoes have kept our growers, who would otherwise face quarantine, in business for generations. The work at this unique facility has allowed the New York potato industry to flourish, with more than 1,200 farms producing more than $65 million of potatoes on 20,000 acres of cropland statewide. Additionally, this facility has played a crucial role in helping to prevent the spread of this devastating pest beyond a small area, protecting the potato industry not only in New York, but nationwide.
I have been informed that you have discussed ways to provide federal funds for a new growth chamber and other updated equipment to leverage New York State's investment in a renovation of the lab. New equipment will greatly improve the facility's usefulness and its ability to maintain more than six decades of a successful golden nematode quarantine. Emerging nematode challenges, such as the soybean cyst, will also benefit from having a biosafe area for ARS and Cornell scientists to conduct research and control work.
I understand that in the current fiscal climate budgets are constrained. However, based on the critical importance of the work at the Nematode Quarantine Facility at Cornell, I ask that you commit to provide the necessary funds to support upgrades to the equipment at this facility as soon as possible. I look forward to working with you on this important request.
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
Source