§7628. Support for research regarding diseases of wheat and barley caused by Fusarium graminearum
(a) Research grant authorized
The Secretary of Agriculture may make a grant to a consortium of land-grant colleges and universities to enhance the ability of the consortium to carry out a multi-State research project aimed at understanding and combating diseases of wheat and barley caused by Fusarium graminearum and related fungi (referred to in this section as "wheat scab").
(b) Research components
Funds provided under this section shall be available for the following collaborative, multi-State research activities:
(1) Identification and understanding of the epidemiology of wheat scab and the toxicological properties of vomitoxin, a toxic metabolite commonly occurring in wheat and barley infected with wheat scab.
(2) Development of crop management strategies to reduce the risk of wheat scab occurrence.
(3) Development of-
(A) efficient and accurate methods to monitor wheat and barley for the presence of wheat scab and resulting vomitoxin contamination;
(B) post-harvest management techniques for wheat and barley infected with wheat scab; and
(C) milling and food processing techniques to render contaminated grain safe.
(4) Strengthening and expansion of plant-breeding activities to enhance the resistance of wheat and barley to wheat scab, including the establishment of a regional advanced breeding material evaluation nursery and a germplasm introduction and evaluation system.
(5) Development and deployment of alternative fungicide application systems and formulations to control wheat scab and consideration of other chemical control strategies to assist farmers until new more resistant wheat and barley varieties are available.
(c) Communications networks
Funds provided under this section shall be available for efforts to concentrate, integrate, and disseminate research, extension, and outreach-orientated information regarding wheat scab.
(d) Management
To oversee the use of a grant made under this section, the Secretary may establish a committee composed of the directors of the agricultural experiment stations in the States in which land-grant colleges and universities that are members of the consortium are located.
(e) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,200,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.
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