An MSU pesticide research program could lose $210,000 if Gov. Jennifer Granholm follows budget cut recommendations from a Midland-based think tank.

According to a report by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group, Michigan can save $34 million by eliminating programs in the state's Department of Agriculture.

But Chris DiFonzo, MSU's pesticide education program coordinator, said a cut wouldn't have a big affect on the university.

The Department of Agriculture gets federal funding to run the pesticide certification program, and MSU is contracted to make educational material for people who use the chemicals.

Certification is required by the Department of Agriculture to apply pesticides, DiFonzo said.

"I don't view this as too much of a big deal," she said.

"We just won't do the work for the Department of Agriculture."

The report was released Wednesday and is the first segment of a 20-chapter study to be completed in March, said Mike LaFaive, the center's director of fiscal policy.

"MSU could apply for that grant directly or better yet, pay for it themselves," he said, adding the Department of Agriculture didn't need to act like a middleman. "It doesn't need to get passed through the state."

The center recommends MSU obtain the money by soliciting private donations or allocating money from its budget - which was already shorted about $6 million last month.

The 16-page preliminary report also says the state can save an additional $59 million by selling the state fairgrounds in Escanaba and Detroit.

Granholm spokeswoman Mary Dettloff said the governor might follow the center's recommendations in preparing her plan for trimming $1.8 billion from the budget. So far, Granholm has recommended cuts to public education to balance the state books.

An executive order cutting funding to state departments is expected next week.

"Everything is on the table," Dettloff said.