Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee today approved funding for much needed agricultural projects, including the eradication of exotic pests such as the glassy-winged sharpshooter in California.

"California is the Nation's number one agriculture producing state," Senator Feinstein said. "That's why I am pleased that the Appropriations Committee has approved funding for a number of projects important to the agriculture industry. The glassy-winged sharpshooter and other exotic pests are a significant threat to California's agriculture, and we need to continue to do all that we can to completely rid them from the state. This goes a long way to helping address that threat."

The FY2005 Agriculture Appropriations Bill approved by the Committee today includes the following items of interest to California:

•  $23 million for State programs to eradicate the glassy-winged sharpshooter;

•  $1.8 million for the Center for Exotic Pest Research at UC Riverside;

•  $15 million for Seniors Farmer Market Nutrition Program;

•  $1 million for Specialty Crop Technical Export Assistance;

•  $1.2 million for Sudden Oak Death Disease research;

•  $2.2 million for a special research grant on Pierce's Disease;

•  $1.7 million for the CA-NY Viticulture Consortium; and

•  $425,000 for a Central California ozone study.

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