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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 22, 2004

SCHUMER SECURES $3 MILLION FOR THE GENEVA GRAPE GENETICS RESEARCH CENTER

Funding included in the FY05 Omnibus Appropriations bill

Federal Funding will be used for construction of the Center at the Cornell Ag & Tech Research Park in Geneva

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that Congress has passed the Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which included $3 million in federal funding for construction of the Center for Grape Genetics research at the Cornell Ag & Tech Research Park in Geneva. The funds for the center were included in the Agriculture Appropriations section of the bill. The bill now heads to the President for his signature.

"Improving science for our farmers is very important," said Schumer. "This funding will help build a new center for grape genetic research in Geneva and help the Finger Lakes area to become one the premier centers for agriculture research in the country.”

This new funding will be in addition to the $2.43 million provided in FY04 for planning and design of the center. The grape program within the current Plant Genetics Resources Unit of the US Department of Agriculture Research Service located on Cornell’s Geneva campus has recently expanded to address issues confronting the grape industry in the Northeast. At the new center, research will be done to improve the yield and quality of wine, table and juice grapes to strengthen the grape industry in New York State.

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