point of foreign animal diseases. To meet this threat, additional funds are needed for strengthening foot-and-mouth disease research, including improvement of facilities vital to more effective research. As basic research progresses in foot-and-mouth disease, there is a growing demand for large quantities of purified virus and additional amounts needed would add to the cost of the program. Purified virus would be used in biochemical and biophysical studies in the broad area of molecular biology. It is also required for basic investigations on the immunochemistry and other immunologic investigations of foot-and-mouth disease. In addition, there is urgent need to accelerate research on this disease in swine. Investigations now are concerned chiefly with cattle. Improvement of the water supply system on Plum Island and changes in the electrical system are urgently needed. A large portion of the potable water mains on Plum Island were installed prior to World War I and are badly corroded and seriously constricted by mineral deposits. Mains have had numerous failures and leaks, and must be used only under reduced water pressure. The water supply on Plum Island contains an excessive amount of iron. Iron deposits are causing serious constriction of water mains, building lines and piping as well as staining of equipment and clothing. Objectionable tastes and odors also result from this condition. Maintenance of the existing potable water storage capacity at the required operating pressures necessitates repair and reinforcement of the existing underground reservoir. Increased chloride content and saline contamination requires the installation of an auxiliary well field to provide an adequate supply of potable water. Surface grading and protection are necessary to insure adequate surface collection of water. Development of this additional water supply is in accordance with a comprehensive geological and research study conducted by the U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey, in 1960. Emergency electrical facilities are urgently needed to assure adequate electrical power 24 hours a day. On many occasions each year, the commercial power supply is cut off because of storms. Since the laboratories are completely dependent on a forced air system and since most of the equipment is operated by electricity, such lapses in electrical supply are critical. The lack of funds to meet these current operating needs is due to considerable degree to the necessity for absorbing increased wage board costs. There are currently 214 such employees at this station. It has been necessary to absorb the costs of several wage board increases for the wage board employees. The increased cost per employee has amounted to many hundreds of dollars per annum over a period of years. Except on one occasion, it has been necessary to absorb costs of increased wage board rates. PLAN OF WORK About half of the funds would be used to increase virus production needed for the research, using existing facilities. The remaining funds would be used in the first year to improve facilities for: (1) modification of potable water supply system by installation of treatment plant, water main replacement, additional wells, and reservoir modification; and (2) initiation of alterations and installations required to provide over a 2-year period for diesel-powered generator, fuel oil storage, and modifications in the overhead distribution system. The funds used initially for improving the utility system would become available in later years for further strengthening of research. Dr. RODENHISER. I would also like the record to show the extent to which funds are currently available for foot-and-mouth disease research. (The material referred to follows:) The funds available for Department research on foot-and-mouth and other foreign diseases in fiscal year 1964 is $4,363,600. This covers research on these diseases not only at the Plum Island Animal Disease Research Laboratory off Long Island, N.Y., but also research in foreign countries. LABORATORY AT FORT COLLINS, COLO. Dr. RODENHISER. We have, in addition to this, one construction item for sugarbeet, pasture, and range laboratory at Fort Collins, Colo. The temporary quarters in which we are now housed will be taken down by the university, and the space used for construction of dormitories. We need to provide our scientists with laboratory and office facilities for this work. We are requesting $1 million for this construction item which will provide housing for the pasture and range and sugarbeet research being conducted at this location. This item is reviewed in detail on pages 28 and 29 of our experimental notes, and we ask that they be included. Mr. WHITTEN. We shall be glad to have them included. (The pages follow:) AN INCREASE OF $1 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES FOR SUGARBEET, PASTURE, AND RANGE RESEARCH, FORT COLLINS, COLO. NEED FOR INCREASE Facilities are urgently needed at Fort Collins, Colo., to provide quarters for continuation of Federal research on sugarbeets and forage and range crops for that region. Colorado State University plans to construct dormitories on the land now occupied by the temporary quonset huts in which sugarbeet research is housed. The temporary Army barracks, housing forage and range research, are also to be demolished soon to provide space for the permanent structures planned by the university. When this takes place, other temporary facilities or leased facilities must be used until needed permanent facilities can be provided. The current research program is as follows: Sugarbeets.-Fort Collins is the location for the regional cooperative sugarbeet research on the special production problems of the eastern Rocky Mountain slope. This is a major area for sugarbeet production. An intensive program of basic and applied research on breeding, genetics, and diseases of sugarbeets is essential to meeting the problems of the industry. The research is conducted in close cooperation with agronomic research of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and with the Beet Sugar Development Foundation. Basic research on population genetics and breeding techniques has presented new approaches to sugarbeet improvement. The industry urgently needs varieties resistant to leaf spot, rhizoctonia root rot, and curly top. Forage and range research.—Continuation of the program of basic and applied research on the improvement of rangelands and mountain meadows is important to producers in the Central Plains and in the mountains of Colorado and adjacent States. Research in cooperation with the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station are currently underway. Grazing investigations on the Central Plains Experimental Range at Nunn, Colo., are also in close cooperation with the Crow Valley Cooperative Livestock Association. Research involves range revegetation throughout the Central Plains and mountains of Colorado and adjacent States, and grazing management on the Central Plains and development of superior legumes for mountain meadows. Solutions are sought to pressing problems that occur widely. Basic investigations on the physiology of range plants as affected by environment and management are an important part of the research. Proposed facilities.-The proposed facilities would include laboratory-office space (11,700 square feet), storage space (7,000 square feet), and a headhousegreenhouse with growth rooms (16,600 square feet). They would provide for a staff of approximately 25 to 30 employees, most of whom are now working on these projects. No site is currently available for the facilities, but it is believed the State would be willing to provide a site. Dr. RODENHISER. Mr. Chairman, would you like to spend time in going on with some of our notes of progress? Mr. WHITTEN. Doctor, I believe in view of the situation that we will ask you to be sure that the record carries the points in which you are especially interested, where you have had some special success, in such detail as you like; and, again, in each of these increases I would like for the record to show the present amount plus the increase, and I believe that will be sufficient. May Í say, Dr. Rodenhiser, this is a very fine presentation. PROGRESS AND PROBLEM AREAS Dr. RODENHISER. We would like now to refer to a few items of progress and problem areas. RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT Cooperative field studies were conducted in Iowa, Minnesota, and Utah during the high radioactive fallout period of September and October 1962 to evaluate the effect of management practices on the iodine 131 contamination of milk under natural fallout conditions. Four sets of conditions are indicated on the chart. Important conclusions drawn from the results obtained are as follows: (1) Removing cows from pasture and feeding only stored feed is an effective way of reducing iodine 131 levels of milk. (2) At the 1962 fallout level inhalation and direct contact were insignificant sources of iodine 131 in milk. (3) Iodine 131 in milk is reduced to insignificant levels within 3 to 4 days after cows are removed from contaminated pastures. (4) The levels of iodine 131 in milk approaches its maximum within 3 to 4 days after cows are placed on contaminated pastures. FEED EFFICIENCY As shown on this chart, feed required to produce a pound of broiler meat has steadily declined. It will be noted that in 1940, 100 pounds of feed produced slightly over 20 pounds of broiler meat. In 1960, 100 pounds produced approximately 35 pounds. This advancement has resulted from an application of our knowledge gained from nutrition and genetics research. This dramatic improvement is contrasted with little, if any, gains in other classes of livestock. CONTROL OF SOIL ORGANISMS With this new equipment, as shown in the chart, the soil is worked to a depth desired with cultivator teeth. The chemical applied is released under the soil near the points of the cultivator teeth. A barrier of polyethylene is applied to confine the pesticide in the soil for a period sufficient to destroy harmful soil-borne organisms. Excellent results have been obtained by the use of this machine and appropriate chemicals for controlling soil-borne plant pathogens, weed seeds, insects, and nematodes. Other methods of sealing the soil are being compared with the seal of polyethylene, such as the use of emulsions of asphalt, wax, or latex sprayed on the surface of the soil. MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF CASTOR BEANS During recent years, acreage devoted to castor bean production has increased rapidly from 30,000 acres in 1962 to approximately 100,000 acres predicted in 1964. As indicated in the chart, a new attachment has been developed for the standard combines. This will enable the farmer to harvest more acres a day, the beans may be picked and hulled immediately if dry, of if wet, artificially dried for late hulling. This unit allows an extension of harvest time of castor beans during the late harvest season. PEACH DECLINE During the last 20 years, the maximum age of peach trees in Georgia has decreased from 12-15 years to 8 years. The number of trees decreased from 8.6 million in 1940 to 3.9 million in 1960. Dead and dying trees are shown in the accompanying chart. Suspected causes of peach decline, alone or in possible combination, may include infection with crown rot, root rot, nematodes, and early spring and winter injury. Research to control peach decline will be conducted at the laboratory to be constructed at Byron, Ga. CORN STUNT Our last chart refers to a new problem recently developed in the United States known as corn stunt. The severity of infection from this disease in some areas indicates that it is an extremely serious threat to the U.S. corn crop. It appears that the potential damage may be even greater than losses caused by any pest of the corn crop. As indicated on the chart, the disease has been reported in 11 States. So far, the greatest damage has been done to corn in the Yazoo area of Mississippi, where several thousand acres of corn were a complete loss. In Ohio, 60 to 70 percent of some individual fields were destroyed. Research is being started this spring to identify and control insect vectors and to breed corn for resistance to the disease. HIGHLIGHTS IN ARS WORK Mr. WHITTEN. In line with the suggestion of Mr. Horan, I think it would be well, Dr. Shaw, to list the progress you have made and the highlights for the whole agency, together with the projects you have finished, and things of that sort. We are strong believers in the absolute necessity of your work. We in turn can verify it to the extent that we have the record to support us. So feel free to do as you have in times past to show the whole story. Dr. SHAW. We will be very glad to. ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE RESEARCH 1. Crossbreeding improves efficiency of beef cattle production.-The size of the beef calf crop per breeding unit greatly influences the cost of producing beef. Research at Fort Robinson, Nebr., shows that crossbreeding offers significant potential in improving the efficiency of beef cattle performance over that of straightbreds. Carcass values less feed costs after weaning were $5.89 per animal in favor of crossbreds. If this increase in value were applied to the 18 million head of beef cattle sold for slaughter each year, it would result in a gain of $107 million to our Nation's beef cattle farmers. 2. New dairy sire evaluations promote herd improvement and lower costs of milk production.-Since 1950, the dairy cows on herd improvement test have increased by 160 percent, and the number of records used in making sire evaluations in the Department by 180 percent. In order to service this activity on an efficient, current basis, the program has been adapted to high speed electronic data processing equipment. In 1950, on the old system 2,800 sires were evaluated. In 1963, under the new system 22,000 sires were evaluated. Breeders and artificial insemination organizations have a much larger choice of superior sires from which to select breeding bulls. Over half the bulls used in artificial breeding are evaluated sires. As evidence of the value of this program, cows in performance tested herds increased production per cow by 23 percent at the same feed cost per 100 pounds of milk from 1950 to 1963. 3. New laboratory procedure developed for diagnosis of hog cholera.-Since the discovery, in 1904, that hog cholera was caused by a virus, there has been a continuing effort to devise a laboratory diagnostic procedure for this serious disease. Recently Department scientists developed a method of identifying hog cholera virus in animal tissues by the use of immunofluorescence techniques. Experimentally, this test has proved to be about 98 percent efficient in detecting hog cholera. The efficiency of this test in diagnosing field cases of hog cholera is being determined. A practical method of diagnosis such as this should be of great value in the current campaign to eradicate hog cholera from the United States. 4. Killed Newcastle disease vaccine produced.-Newcastle disease causes an almost complete cessation of egg production in laying hens. Research at the National Animal Disease Laboratory has shown that it is possible to produce a killed vaccine that will protect laying hens against a loss of egg production. The birds were vaccinated at 2 weeks of age and again at 12 weeks of age. Previous work has shown that one dose of this vaccine at 2 weeks of age will protect broilers. 5. Retardation of sucker growth on tobacco studied.—In commercial practice the flower head of tobacco is removed at blooming time to improve leaf quality and value. Once the tobacco plant is "topped," the lateral buds grow vigorously, forming branches called suckers that must be removed by hand or controlled by chemicals. Certain mineral oils and the compound maleic hydrazide (MH-30) have been used commercially for this purpose. Certain evidence shows that MH-30 treatment alters some constituents of leaf quality in an undesirable manner. Search for a new and effective sucker-inhibiting compound has been made and rapid methods developed for the detection of growth regulator or contact bud-destroying types. Using these methods, it has been possible to screen over 6,000 chemicals in 2 years. Four new chemicals that control tobacco sucker growth effectively have been discovered and have passed primary sucker-inhibiting tests in field experiments. Field practices for application and dosage must be developed. The final evaluation of the tobacco leaf in the manufacturing process and quality of the finished product is to be determined. 6. New crop varieties.-During calendar year 1963, 84 new crop varieties and breeding lines with improved quality and resistance to pests were released, many as the result of research in cooperation with State experiment stations. They included new varieties and breeding lines of wheat, corn, sorghum, oats, millet, barley, rice, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, soybeans, alfalfa, grass, potatoes, beans, onions, oranges, apricots, chestnuts, sesame, popcorn, and chrysanthemums. 7. New methods prove effective in eradicating fruit flies.-The melon fly and the oriental fruit fly were eradicated from the island of Rota in the South Pacific in pilot tests involving two new approaches to insect control, conducted by the Department in cooperation with the U.S. Navy and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. A combination of biological and chemical controls that dupes the insect into bringing about its own destruction, was used against the melon fly. Malathion-protein hydrolysate bait spray was first used to reduce the numbers of melon flies on the most heavily infested farms. Then male flies, previously made sterile by exposure to gamma rays, were dropped from aircraft or released from cages on the ground. After weekly releases totaling 180 million flies, no melon fly maggots were recovered from their favorite hosts such as cantaloup, watermelon, and cucumber 32 months after the first sterile flies were released. To eradicate the oriental fruit fly, a strong attractant was used for the male flies, methyl eugenol, to lure them to an insecticide, naled. The elimination of the oriental fruit fly from the island after about 5 months and four generations after the start of the experiment, demonstrated for the first time the principle of insect eradication by this male annihilation method. |