helps farmers and ranchers, assuring them of the information they need to make better informed production and marketing decisions. The creation of new domestic markets, as well as the expansion of U.S. farmers' foreign markets, is supported by OPA's communications apparatus. OPA coordinates information support for the Departmental initiative of developing new industrial uses for farm products. Through this effort, we hope to find new uses and increase demand for agricultural commodities, create jobs in rural America, boost farm income and tap renewable resources. In that connection, Mr. Chairman, OPA, for the first time, published the 1991 Yearbook of Agriculture using soy-ink on recycled paper. The marketability of U.S. farm products is critical to the continued success of American agriculture. We in America enjoy the world's safest and most wholesome food supply. Educating the consumer about the safety and nutritional benefits of our country's farm products is a task that falls, in part, to the Office of Public Affairs. OPA's link to the news media allows the Department to distribute agricultural news quickly and accurately. At the same time OPA can correct information that affects the marketability of farm products. Other OPA services, such as USDA's daily radio news line service, its weekly television reports, or its computerized information delivery service, allow USDA consumer information to be communicated quickly through media outlets to the general public. Constant communication forged with farm groups, the National Governor's Association, Indian Tribes and others allow the Office of Public Affairs to work to ensure the prompt flow of information vital to sustain the agricultural economy. For example, agricultural conservation and rural development, keys to agricultural stability, are joint responsibilities borne by these groups and Federal, State, and local governments. The Office of Public Affairs provides a forum for the free flow of information between USDA and all its constituents, further ensuring policies that reflect our constituents' needs for stability in the American farm sector. FY 1993 BUDGET REQUEST In order to continue this cooperation and to better serve the increasing information needs of the agricultural community, the Office of Public Affairs is requesting $9.720 million for fiscal year 1993. This represents an increase of $327,000 over our fiscal year 1992 appropriation. Of these additional funds, $289,000 will be used to cover increased pay costs and $38,000 is targeted for improvements necessary to the expansion of the AgNewsFAX service. The AgNewsFAX service allows the Office of Press and Media Relations, within the Office of Public Affairs, to transmit, quickly and efficiently, breaking agricultural news, press releases, remarks and other news-related information to media outlets. Its expansion is a high priority. We hope to expand this service, which now provides FAX on demand and FAX broadcast service to the media, to a wider audience including farm groups, the Congress, and State and local governments. This concludes my statement, Mr. Chairman. I will be pleased to respond to any questions. [CLERK'S NOTE.-The biographical sketch of Mr. Runnignen appears on pages 15 and 16. Mr. Runningen's statement appears on pages 17 through 20. The explanatory notes appear on pages 21 through 34.] Mr. McHUGH. Thank you very much. AGNEWSFAX The only increase above pay costs would be the $38,000 for the AgNewsFAX? Is that correct? Mr. RUNNINGEN. As a reporter, I was a user of that. The FAX has become universal around town, as you know. What happens is, when we have a late breaking news development, we put it on the FAX machine as it currently exists. Because it is so popular, we have a lot of reporters and broadcasters around the country and here in town who are jamming the phone lines. We have a problem. We don't have quite enough phone lines. One of the things we are going to do is add eight more phone lines with this appropriation, if you agree to it. Secondly, we need to increase the hard disc data storage so reporters can go back a week or two or three to retrieve information if they want to do that. So those are the couple of main areas. Mr. MCHUGH. So in effect they can order something they want by computer and the FAX will deliver it to them? Mr. RUNNINGEN. Automatically. Most reporters will get a oneday menu of data available. That comes automatically. When they look through that menu and see a number assigned to that, then they dial up that number and it will come back automatically. Mr. MCHUGH. Can you give us an idea as to how many calls you get, how much the backlog is and how desperate is the need here? Mr. RUNNINGEN. I will answer that for the record. [The information follows:] The AgNewsFAX system is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Currently, AgNewsFAX receives 80-100 incoming calls a day. Some of these calls may use only a minute or two on the system if callers are selecting a one-page list or document; others may take 10-15 minutes as callers select and receive up to 10 faxes, some of which may contain 5, 6 or even more pages. The system can respond and send files to 8 callers at one time; the 9th caller receives a busy signal. At various times, we use 3 of the 8 lines to automatically send special releases as well as a list of all releases issued that day to approximately 50 agricultural reports. So far, we have provided information about using this system only to reporters who cover agriculture. We are seeking to expand the system to allow access by farm and other agricultural organizations, state departments of agriculture, Congressional staff offices, and even individual farmers as well. AgNewsFAX has become a primary method of distributing news releases and other news materials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By expanding it we could (1) add more material to the system, thereby making it even more useful; (2) allow farm groups and other agricultural interests to use the system in addition to reporters; (3) be able to simultaneously automatically transmit our release lists and key releases to eight reporters and others at a time, while having 8 lines free to receive and respond to incoming calls; and (4) have a backup in case the current 8line "node" fails. TRAVEL Mr. MCHUGH. One of the things I would like to ask you about, and you may not know it off the top of your head so if not, please provide it for the record, is your travel expenses. There is a propos al in your budget to increase travel costs. Travel expenses in fiscal year 1991 were $49,983. I don't know what they were in 1992, but in 1993 the request is for $120,000. That is a significant increase in two years, about a 140 percent increase. It sounds more dramatic than the actual request was. Why such a significant increase in that short a time? Mr. RUNNINGEN. Mr. Chairman, we had a significant number of vacancies in the Office of Public Affairs when I came to it last July, about a dozen or so. We are now up to almost full staff. That, in part is part of the reason. If there are any other factors, I will supply that for the record. [The information follows:] There were three senior management positions, along with some support positions, that were vacant for much of fiscal year 1991. The senior management positions involve a great deal of travel in support of program goals. In fiscal year 1990, this office spent $112,057 for travel and related expenses. Therefore, the actual travel expenses in fiscal year 1991 were reflective of unusually subnormal staffing during the same period. The fiscal year 1993 request reflects these positions being filled and represents a small increase over the FY 1990 level. Mr. MCHUGH. These expenses are incurred for people to go out and speak to people around the country. Is that correct? Mr. RUNNINGEN. Yes, for myself, the Deputy and for some television shows. We don't sit in Washington. We try to produce some of these television things from out in the country. Some of our people in the radio news lines also go out to produce and get comments from people beyond the beltway, if you will. So many of them also go to the National Association of Farm Broadcasters meeting every year. We have a roving booth, if you will, to promote the radio news line that is available and inviting farm broadcasters to call in. 1992 YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE Mr. MCHUGH. What can you tell us about the 1992 yearbook? Mr. RUNNINGEN. The 1992 yearbook, the planning is underway on that. We are well into the planning on that. The topic will be new uses for new crops and new markets. Mr. MCHUGH. When does that come out? Mr. RUNNINGEN. We are shooting for December. U.S./U.S.S.R. PUBLICATION ON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION Mr. MCHUGH. The staff has highlighted for my purposes something which I would like to ask you about. It is an interesting project. Again, if you don't have the details, perhaps you can put something briefly in the record. There was a joint project, a publication on soil and water conservation involving the United States and the former Soviet Union. It was scheduled to be released this fall. Do you know anything about this publication, how much it costs and what its ultimate goals are? Mr. RUNNINGEN. I am aware of it. I would like to supply the details for the record. [The information follows:] The projected cost of the subject publication on soil and water conservation is $140,000. There will be 10 articles from each side in the bilingual publication, with multiple authors. The publication will provide a broad array of information on conservation subjects including engineering, wind erosion control, drainage, irrigation, soil erosion control systems, and resource inventories. The publication will be of benefit to technical and scientific specialists in State and Federal agencies, universities, and organizations throughout the United States and the former USSR. At this time the USDA articles are complete, and we are awaiting the Russian contributions which are overdue. If we do not receive the material from Russia soon, the fall release may be delayed or Soil Conservation Service may decide to publish our portion as a stand-alone. AMERICAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL Mr. McHUGH. Your Office was reimbursed in fiscal year 1991 for services provided in support of the American Folklife Festival. What services did you provide and for whom? Mr. RUNNINGEN. The Office of Public Affairs directed and conducted activities associated with USDA agency participation in the Family Farming in the Heartland exhibit portion of the 1991 Festival of American Folklife, which is presented by the Smithsonian Institution. The following agencies' participation was administered by the Office of Public Affairs: the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service; Agricultural Research Service; Cooperative State Research Service; Extension Service; Farmers Home Administration; Soil Conservation Service; and Commodity Credit Corporation. USDA BROADCASTING EXHIBIT BOOTH Mr. McHUGH. You propose to collect $16,000 in both fiscal years 1992 and 1993 for a USDA Broadcasting Exhibit Booth. Explain this in further detail. Mr. RUNNINGEN. The booth is displayed at the annual Radio-TV News Directors Association meeting and the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasters conference and helps the Department deliver information about USDA Radio/TV and the USDA agencies. Agencies have been asked to fund the booth through reimbursable agreements, contributing $500 to $2,000 each depending on projected expenses for the year. The number of participating agencies varies from year to year, from 12 to 15. The funds cover the cost of exhibit space and equipment, printing material for distribution at the booth, shipping materials to and from the exhibit site, and transportation and per diem for one person to manage and staff the booth at two conferences per year. The booth serves as a unifying presence for USDA agencies. The display and information presented at the booth serve to heighten awareness of the Department's broadcast programming and the range of subjects available. TRANSPORTATION OF THINGS Mr. MCHUGH. Why are you proposing to increase Object Class 22, Transportation of Things, from $3,116 in fiscal year 1991 to $21,000 in fiscal year 1992? Mr. RUNNINGEN. The fiscal year 1992 estimate for this object class takes into account the possibility of incurring relocation costs related to filling vacant positions. MEDIA TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS Mr. McHUGH. Your Office provides both formal and informal training to Department officials on how to deal with the media. What does this training consist of and how often did you provide it during 1991? Mr. RUNNINGEN. Media training enable department officials to more skillfully deliver their information about agriculture programs and policies. The training includes techniques for use by USDA officials to improve the communication of information through broadcast media. It includes how to be more comfortable talking with the media and giving interviews, information about what reporters want from spokespersons, how to get ready for the interview, and how to deliver a message more effectively. Training includes viewing short video tapes which demonstrate examples of proper and improper techniques of dealing with reporters, printed materials, and on-camera interview training for attendees. The training format has varied, consisting of one-hour one-on-one sessions and of a series of group sessions. During 1991 the Office of Public Affairs trained 26 USDA officials. TV PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. McHUGH. What were the messages of the TV public service announcements that were produced for the Soil Conservation Service and the Forest Service? Mr. RUNNINGEN. The PSAs for the Forest Service were about the national Forest Service Centennial and featured Willard Scott inviting people to visit their national forests and to observe the Centennial. They were produced and paid for by the Forest Service, and were transmitted via satellite as part of the TV News Service. A PSA for Farm City Week was also transmitted featuring Deputy Secretary Ann Veneman who invited viewers to observe the Week. OPA's Radio & TV Division did not produce or pay for the PSA. These were the only PSAs transmitted during 1991. 1992 YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE Mr. MCHUGH. What is the status, title, and working outline for the 1992 Yearbook? Mr. RUNNINGEN. The 1992 Yearbook of Agriculture will be on New Crops, New Uses, New Markets: Industrial and Commercial Products From the U.S. Agriculture. Some of the writing assignments have been made. The working outline I will provide for the record. [The information follows:] 1992 YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE-NEW CORPS, NEW USES, New MARKETS: Foreword by Secretary Madigan CONTENTS Introduction: Historical Models for Change Part I. Meeting Changing Demand: Emerging Markets for Innovative Products Forces for Change Chapter 1. People's Changing Attitudes Chapter 2. Rising Industrial Needs and Capabilities |