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US Agriculture Department moving research branches to Kansas City area

US Agriculture Department moving research branches to Kansas City area

US Agriculture Department moving research branches to Kansas City area

Research branches of the US Department of Agriculture are moving to the Kansas City area.

The USDA has chosen Kansas City as the new location for the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts both applauded the decision, along with Congressman Ron Estes, for the benefits they say it will bring Kansas. Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley from Missouri also praised the move.

“After months of advocating to Secretary Perdue that NIFA and ERS ought to be relocated to the Kansas City area, I’m thrilled that USDA has selected Kansas City to house these critical research agencies,” Moran said. “The animal health corridor, stretching from Manhattan, Kansas to Columbia, Missouri, is the largest concentration of animal health companies in the world, and Kansas is also the home of the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility – and today’s decision further bolsters Kansas City’s status as a national leader in the ag industry.”

Senator Roberts said the KC area was an obvious choice for the research branches.

“The vital research that will occur at the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) and already occurs throughout the KC Animal Health Corridor makes Kansas City a natural fit,” Roberts said. “I am pleased that USDA recognizes the rich resources the heartland provides.”

“Agricultural research is a critical function of USDA, and I am committed to ensuring we continue to support and strengthen the research mission that our US producers rely on,” Roberts said.

Sonny Perdue, the US Secretary of Agriculture, announced the relocation Thursday morning.

“Following a rigorous site selection process, the Kansas City Region provides a win win – maximizing our mission function by putting taxpayer savings into programmatic outputs and providing affordability, easy commutes, and extraordinary living for our employees,” Perdue said. “The Kansas City Region has proven itself to be hub for all things agriculture and is a booming city in America’s heartland.”

Perdue said the KC area already has a significant presence of USDA and federal employees in the area.

“This agriculture talent pool, in addition to multiple land-grant and research universities within driving distance, provides access to a stable labor force for the future.”

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