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Agricultural industry

Lawmakers Urge USDA to Keep Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Open

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

U.S. lawmakers from Maryland have stepped in to warn against the potential closure of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), citing significant harm to American farmers and the nation's agricultural innovation. The lawmakers highlighted the facility's unique capacity as a world leader in agricultural research and the immense value it brings to the nation. They emphasized the importance of Congressional approval for any large-scale restructuring efforts and the lack of transparency in the proposed plan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawmakers urge the USDA to keep BARC open, citing its over 100 years of research and innovation, and its role as the nation's premier agricultural research facility.
  • Closure of BARC would be "deeply harmful" to American farmers, waste taxpayer dollars, and jeopardize the success of American farmers in the immediate and long term.
  • The lawmakers point out that the plan to close BARC requires Congressional approval and moving forward without it would be illegal.
  • BARC is a world leader in agricultural research, and its closure would irreparably harm the United States' leadership in agricultural production and research.
  • The facility helps to train the next generation of agricultural researchers and provides regionally-tailored research to the 83,000 farms throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
  • Closing BARC would result in the loss of decades of work and key research projects that cannot be relocated.
  • The lawmakers request a thorough benefit-cost analysis, a full accounting of the potential impacts of closing BARC, and an urgent meeting to discuss their concerns.

Statistics:

  • BARC has been an engine of agricultural research and innovation for over 100 years.
  • The facility is the nation's premier agricultural research facility.
  • BARC provides research to the 83,000 farms throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
  • The loss of BARC's research jeopardizes $10 billion in agricultural productivity each year.
  • Key research projects at BARC cannot be relocated, with decades of work potentially being lost completely.

Sources:

  • A news release from the Office of the MP Chris Van Hollen.
  • A letter submitted by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Representatives Glenn Ivey, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski to the USDA.

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