UGA Tifton receives $4 million to strengthen Georgia agriculture
Federal funding to support UGA’s veterinary and precision agriculture labs, improving research and food security
TIFTON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) has announced $4 million in funding to strengthen Georgia’s agriculture.
Friday, Senator Ossoff announced a total of $4 million in federal funding has been allocated to the University of Georgia’s veterinary and precision agriculture research at the Tifton campus. Senator Ossoff says these resources are critical to Georgia’s farmers, food supply and public health.
According to Ossoff, $1 million will go to the UGA Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Lab. The lab will use that money to upgrade 30-year-old equipment.
In a news release, Senator Ossoff explains that the veterinary diagnostic and investigational lab works to monitor and prevent disease outbreaks in livestock.
Stressing the importance of the work done at UGA, Ossoff pointed to recent bird flu outbreaks.
“Avian Flu is just one of many diseases that can damage the productivity of American agriculture, undermine our food security and potentially threaten public health,” he said.
Additionally, Ossoff said $1 million will help the University of Georgia set up a precision agriculture lab. That involves building a test lab and rehabilitating an existing facility.
So, what is precision agriculture?
Ossoff explained new technology like drones, robotics and analytics are giving farmers better results. For example, some farmers may use drones to spray fields with pesticides and fertilizer. Cattle ranchers may use sensors to keep track of herds and their water supply.
Although the federal funding package was announced in April, Senator Ossoff said Friday that President Biden has signed it into law.
Ossoff credits Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock and Congressman David Scott with gathering support from both Republicans and Democrats. In the news release, Senator Ossoff also thanked UGA for bringing a proposal to his office.
