Last week, funding was restored to the Michigan State University Extension and Agriculture Experimental Station at the legislative committee level, said State Representative Gary McDowell of Rudyard.

During a meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education in Lansing Thursday, March 26, $32 million was put back in the state's proposed 2010 budget for the two programs. Mr. McDowell is a member of the subcommittee, which is chaired by Joan Bauer of Lansing.

The proposed budget will now move through the legislature for consideration.

Governor Jennifer Granholm had earlier called for a 50% cut in funding in her proposed budget as part of a plan to eliminate the state's multi-million dollar budget deficit. The St. Ignace News reported the proposed funding cuts to the extension service March 26.

"Hopefully that will hold up as the budget process moves along, but as of right now we've started the process and it has been restored," Mr. McDowell told The St. Ignace News Friday, March 27.