As it stands now, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames will receive a funding boost. Representative for House District 78 Jarad Klein says the $4 million budget the vet lab has requested for several years has been agreed upon by the senate and house. Klein shares that with the additional $220,000 the lab will no longer be underfunded.

The lab handles all testing in the state for livestock diseases, including PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) and PED (porcine epidemic diarrhea virus), as well as issues with the deer population, like blue tongue.

He says adequate funding for the lab is especially important for Washington and Keokuk counties, given the importance of livestock production.