12 2 STA T . 1 9 9 7PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 2 46—J U NE 1 8, 2008 increas e p ar t icipati o n byw o m en an du nderrepresented minori - ties f rom rura l areas in t h e fields of science , technolo g y, engineering, and mathematics, with priority gi v en to eligible institutions that carry out continuing programs funded by the S ecretary .‘ ‘ (50)ALFA LFA A ND F OR A GE RE S EAR CHP ROGRA M . —R esearch and e x tension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of studying improvements in alfalfa and forage yields, biomass and persistence, pest pressures, the bioenergy potential of alfalfa and other forages, and systems to reduce losses during harvest and storage. ‘‘(5 1 ) F OOD S Y S T EMS V ETER I NARY MEDICINE.—Research grants may be made under this section to address health issues that affect food-producing animals, food safety, and the environ- ment, and to improve information resources, curriculum, and clinical education of students with respect to food animal veteri- nary medicine and food safety. ‘‘(5 2 ) B IOCHAR RESEARCH.— G rants may be made under this section for research, extension, and integrated activities relating to the study of biochar production and use, including considerations of agronomic and economic impacts, synergies of coproduction with bioenergy, and the value of soil enhance- ments and soil carbon se q uestration. ’ ’
(2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection ( j ); ( 3 ) by inserting after subsection (g) the following
‘‘(h) P OLLINATOR PROTECTION.— ‘‘(1) RESEARCH AND E X TENSION.— ‘‘(A) GRANTS.—Research and extension grants may be made under this section— ‘‘(i) to survey and collect data on bee colony produc- tion and health; ‘‘(ii) to investigate pollinator biology, immunology, ecology, genomics, and bioinformatics; ‘‘(iii) to conduct research on various factors that may be contributing to or associated with colony col- lapse disorder, and other serious threats to the health of honey bees and other pollinators, including— ‘‘( I ) parasites and pathogens of pollinators; and ‘‘(II) the sublethal effects of insecticides, herbi- cides, and fungicides on honey bees and native and managed pollinators; ‘‘(iv) to develop mitigative and preventative meas- ures to improve native and managed pollinator health; and ‘‘(v) to promote the health of honey bees and native pollinators through habitat conservation and best management practices. ‘‘(B) A U THORI Z ATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— T here is authori z ed to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $ 10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 200 8 through 2012. ‘‘(2) D EPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CAPACITY AND INFRA- STRUCTURE.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, to the max- imum extent practicable, increase the capacity and infra- structure of the Department—
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