Agriculture Committee, Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This bill mandates the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to conduct extensive research on the effects of wildfire smoke on wine grapes, aiming to understand and mitigate its impact on viticulture. The research will focus on identifying specific smoke compounds and establishing standardized, fast, and inexpensive testing methodologies for smoke-exposed grapes and wines. Additionally, the ARS will create a reliable database of naturally occurring smoke exposure compounds and develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke effects. The bill also requires studying compounds that can act as a barrier between grapes and smoke. This research will be coordinated with relevant land-grant colleges in California, Oregon, and Washington, with an authorized appropriation of $6,500,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
This bill mandates the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to conduct extensive research on the effects of wildfire smoke on wine grapes, aiming to understand and mitigate its impact on viticulture. The research will focus on identifying specific smoke compounds and establishing standardized, fast, and inexpensive testing methodologies for smoke-exposed grapes and wines. Additionally, the ARS will create a reliable database of naturally occurring smoke exposure compounds and develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke effects. The bill also requires studying compounds that can act as a barrier between grapes and smoke. This research will be coordinated with relevant land-grant colleges in California, Oregon, and Washington, with an authorized appropriation of $6,500,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.