[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZES THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S 
  AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE AND SUBTROPICAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 
               STATION'S PRESENCE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural 
Research Service and Subtropical Agricultural Research Station (STARS) 
in Brooksville, FL. for the past seventy-five years, STARS has worked 
in cooperation with the University of Florida to improve animal 
production. Their hard work to develop superior animal production 
systems for the subtropical regions of the United States has 
established them as leaders in beef cattle and water quality research.
  STARS began in 1932 with nearly 2,100 acres as a gift to the Federal 
Government by Colonel and Mrs. Raymond Robins. The STARS program would 
eventually grow to its current size of 3,800 acres and produce 
significant research for the categorization and conservation of 
tropically adapted beef cattle. Their current projects include 
environmentally focused analysis that will help determine the impact of 
the cattle on the waters of Florida and their sustainability.
  Given its status as the only station located in the South, the STARS 
program remains a unique and significant research facility. This is 
extremely significant because of the fact that nearly 40 percent of the 
entire Nation's cattle herd is located in the southern United States. 
STARS also serves as a satellite repository to the National Animal 
Germplasm Program for tropically adapted beef cattle.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud all the men and women who have contributed 
to the success of the STARS program over the past seventy-five years. 
These individuals exemplify how working tirelessly on animal production 
and water quality research can greatly enhance the quality of life for 
America. This program continues to enhance scientific knowledge of beef 
cattle, and I commend those involved for their efforts to produce 
research at the forefront of American agriculture.

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