USDA aims to close research laboratory in Las Cruce
11 May '06
3 min read
Cotton grown in New Mexico, Arizona and California is among the highest quality in the world -- for a number of reasons, including years of research and development.
Federal budget proposals within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) are aimed at closing a number of research facilities, including the Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory in Las Cruces and a similar USDA operation in Lubbock, Texas.
The proposed closing of one of the most important cotton research facilities in the US, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico is facing opposition from a variety of interests across the western cotton growing region.
Michael White, President of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, said Farm Bureau in New Mexico will mobilize its membership base to oppose the closing of the labs.
“These world-class laboratory facilities not only provide critical research and development, they also keep U.S. cotton production on the cutting edge in a global, agricultural marketplace,” White said. “Based on the successful history of these labs, and their continuing importance to the cotton industry as a whole, this proposal needs to be reconsidered.”
The agricultural leader said the New Mexico Farm Bureau, and a coalition of cotton organizations, ginners and co-ops, are seeking assistance from New Mexico Senators Bingaman, Domenici and Congressman Steve Pearce.
The USDA lab at Las Cruces is the only facility in the world doing research on the roller ginning of high quality Pima cotton variety.
marketing@alchempro.com
