Anti-meth grant program included in farm bill

Washington, D.C.-An anti-methamphetamine grant program was included in the 2007 farm bill during the full House Ag Committee’s mark-up of the legislation earlier this month. The amendment, adopted by a voice vote after being introduced by Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) on July 16, authorizes a grant program that would allow cooperatives, agricultural retailers, or producers who own an anhydrous ammonia nurse tank to purchase a chemical additive or meth inhibitor that would reduce the amount of methamphetamine that could be produced. Grants under the program would be $40-$60 per nurse tank, per year on a given facility, for as many nurse tanks as the facility has. The Agricultural Retailers Association, which provided input in the development of the amendment as it relates to the definition of agricultural retailer, said it supports the Boswell amendment. “It will provide grant funding to ag retailers to help offset costs of purchasing meth inhibitors placed in anhydrous ammonia to prevent theft by drug dealers,” ARA’s Richard Gupton told Green Markets.