Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, announced Tuesday July 14th that he was able to secure more than $2.8 million in federal funding for Auburn University and the Alabama agriculture industry.
"Agriculture remains a staple of Alabama's economy and serves as a major economic engine for our part of the state," Aderholt said in a press release. "The research being conducted at Auburn University is critical to the continued advancement of agriculture sciences in North Alabama and across the entire nation."
Aderholdt's spokesman Darrell "D.J." Jordan said Aderholt secured the money by requesting the funds in the annual House of Representatives Appropriations Bill that Congress passes every year.
"The fact that he is a senior member of one of the Appropriations subcommittees gives Aderholt a little influence when he requests funding for his district and state," Jordan said.
Jordan said the Alabama agriculture industry accounts for more than $43 billion or 22 percent of the state's direct economic output, which is more than any other industry.
According to the press release, the agriculture funding includes $419,000 for the Precision Agriculture and Forestry project, $1.09 million for the National Soil Dynamics Lab, and $1.3 million for the Improved Crop Production Practices project.
Dr. John Fulton, assistant professor in biosystems engineering, said Auburn's programs focus on basic research and application.
"Auburn's programs address short and long-term problems to help producers maximize their profits and make informed management decisions," Fulton said.
Fulton said the agricultural industry can remain profitable and competitive in a global market through precision agriculture.
Fulton said precision agriculture technologies have increased producers' profits from $2 to $8 more per acre, and some technologies save 5 to 10 percent on inputs like seeds and fertilizers.
"Farmers becoming better stewards of the land is one of the biggest impacts of precision agriculture," Fulton said. "They improve their environmental stewardship by reducing the risk of things like runoff and leaching and have become much more efficient."
According to the press release, the National Soil Dynamics Lab funding will be used to develop and demonstrate integrated management practices for Alabama that will permit economical crop production without destructive tillage.
Corey Kichler, engineering technician for the USDA soil dynamics lab, said the lab is researching conservation tillage methods.
"The conservation method saves on time as well as fuel costs because you make less passes and less operations," Kichler said. "From a farmer's standpoint, they spend less money in the field, get better benefits from the system and increase soil fertility. The farmer saves money as well as getting more use out of their land."
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