Senate, House Budget Includes Funding for the University of Massachusetts Cranberry Station

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Legislature today passed a $30.59 billion balanced budget for the 2012 fiscal year, closing a $1.9 billion budget gap with funding reductions, ongoing revenue initiatives and one-time revenues, Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said.

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Cranberry Station in East Wareham continues to be funded in the final spending plan.

“The cranberry industry plays an important role in protecting and preserving the environment in Southeastern Massachusetts, and we are currently second in the nation in cranberry production,” Murray said. “We have more than 14,000 acres in production and, through extensive research, the specialists at the UMass Cranberry Station work to maintain the cranberry industry in our Commonwealth.”

“We very much value the efforts of the Senate President and her colleagues to continue funding for the UMass Cranberry Station,” said Dr. Carolyn DeMoranville, Station Director at UMass Cranberry Station. “We take our responsibility to assist Massachusetts cranberry growers with production and environmental research and outreach very seriously. The commitment of the Legislature and the University to this mission is appreciated by us and by the growers.”

The UMass Cranberry Station touts a mission of maintaining and enhancing the economic viability of the Massachusetts cranberry industry and is recognized as a leader in the United States and worldwide for research and outreach programs on cranberry culture.

The bill will now travel to the Governor’s desk for his consideration.

For more information on the FY 2012 budget conference committee report, visit http://www.mass.gov/legis/journal/desktop/Current%20Agenda%202011/H3535.pdf.