An earmark from three state Democrats would study sweet potatoes.
Reps. Bob Etheridge of Lillington, Brad Miller of Raleigh and Mike McIntyre of Lumberton, have all requested federal appropriations for research on the state vegetable at N.C. State University.
Etheridge and Miller both sought $300,000 to study Plectric aliena, an invasive grub that has the potential to decimate sweet potato crops.
"Though present in the U.S. for nearly a century, the insect remained relatively obscure until 2006 when devastating infestations occurred in several hundred acres of sweet potatoes in North Carolina," Etheridge wrote in his request. "Now, infestation is widespread and growing."
McIntyre asked for $800,000 to "carry out basic and applied research" on the vegetable.
"They are becoming an increasingly important crop with deployment in schools and being part of a healthy diet," he wrote in his request.
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