The Senate Appropriations Committee on May 19 approved its FY17 Agriculture appropriations bill with $375 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), an increase of $25 million above the FY16 enacted level. That funding is the same amount approved for AFRI by the House Appropriations Committee on April 19. AFRI is a competitive grant program that provides funding for fundamental and applied research, extension, and education in food and agricultural sciences. It continues to see significant increases in both the Administration and Appropriation Committees' draft budgets.

The bill also allocates$3.5 million for advanced wood research through the Agricultural Research Service. This initiative involves OSU's Forestry and Engineering colleges and UO's Architecture school focused on the unique intersection of architecture, design, engineering, and construction of buildings and products using innovative wood products.

Both the House and Senate must approve their appropriations bills before further action can occur.