TABLE 2.-Appropriations for Cooperative State Research Service-Fiscal years 1 Allotted to States by projects on the basis of recommendations by a committee of experiment station directors and approved by the Cooperative State Research Service. 2 Allotted to States by projects on the basis of recommendations by the Experiment Stations Marketing Research Advisory Committee. Apportioned among the States on a basis determined by the Secretary after consultation with a national advisory board of not less than 7 officials of forestry schools chosen by eligible institutions. TABLE 3.-Estimated distribution of Federal-grant payments to States by fields of research at State agricultural experiment stations—Fiscal year 1964 [In thousands of dollars] Field of Research A. Hatch program (includes sec. 204 (b)) – I. Improving market efficiency and expanding utilization: (d) Expanding utilization and improvement of agri- Total----- II. Reducing farm costs and increasing returns: (b) Development of new and improved farm machin- (c) Reducing animal and poultry losses from dis- (e) Reducing plant disease, insect and weed losses___ ical Total_ 1964 (38, 906) 2, 091 2,676 2, 668 928 18, 363 704 1,280 1, 898 7, 184 5,330 4,926 21, 322 III. Pesticide residues‒‒‒‒‒ 1, 089 IV. Resource use and development: (a) Soil conservation and management- 3,598 (b) Hydrology, water conservation and management_ (f) Economics of conservation and use of natural resources. 299 Total_-_ 5, 331 V. Agricultural policies, adjustment and rural development__ VI. Human nutrition, housing and clothing-. B. McIntire-Stennis__. (a) Reforestation and management. 1,284 1, 517 (1,000) 200 200 100 150 150 200 1, 212 310 41, 428 Mr. WHITTEN. I notice there is an increase of approximately $1,032,000. Dr. Byerly, we would like for you to discuss the use made of the increase in the present fiscal year for salary increases and forest research grants. Also, I call your attention to last year's report which stated the committee requests that full information showing amounts of grants and contracts of State experiment stations for the purpose of research be presented each year in as much detail as possible as part of the supporting material for the annual Federal appropriation. Now, with that opening statement, we leave it in your hands. Mr. WHITTEN. We will be glad to have Dr. Brady's initial state ment. Mr. HORAN. Mr. Chairman, I am partly responsible for the request for information on grants to State experiment stations. I want it understood that I had in mind Federal funds, or moneys, and not donations or State funds, although I think the total program for the research, total of the experience and progress of the United States should be there in order for you to make any judgment as to where to push and where to pull on this thing. That is all. I just wanted to make that clear because, apparently, there was some confusion. I did not ask for all funds. I just meant the Federal funds. Mr. WHITTEN. Dr. Brady, you may proceed. GENERAL STATEMENTS Dr. BRADY. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, we are pleased to have this opportunity to present the programs and propose the budgets of the Cooperative State Research Service and the Federal grant payments to the State agricultural experiment stations and forestry schools eligible under the McIntire-Stennis Forestry Act. The name of the agency, formerly the Cooperative State Experiment Station Service, was changed on November 22, 1963, to reflect the enlarged responsibilities of the Cooperative State Research Service in administration of Public Law 87-788, the McIntire-Stennis Act, which includes nine eligible research institutions in addition to the State agricultural experiment stations. Before accepting the responsibilities of my present position as Director of Science and Education, I was privileged to serve as a scientist, a department head, and as a participant in foreign programs of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. As editor of the Proceedings of the Soil Science Society of America for several years, I was in a position to assess the contributions of State station scientists to the advancement of knowledge in that field. Through these experiences, and through contacts with the scientific community, I have developed a high regard for past accomplishments of State station scientists and with high optimism for future progress. The purposes of the State stations are closely linked to the purposes expressed in the Hatch Act, which caused them to be formed. Each director of a State agricultural experiment station is responsible to the Secretary of Agriculture for wise and proper use of Hatch funds and to officials of his State for other research funds. provided by or through them. His total responsibility is for research which will help the agriculture of his State, his region, and his Nation, and to those problems of our total society directly related to agriculture. The research programs of the State stations under his direction are in transition as agriculture has undergone change. In carrying out his responsibilities, the director must first identify, hire and retain scientists with good training, ability, drive and dedication. These are the people who solve problems and develop knowledge useful to agriculture as well as to the entire population. We see this in new research on problems of water, pesticides, marketing, nutrition, utilization, and others. And so the number and variation of important problems facing agricultural scientists grow. Also, total science has spread in many directions and dimensions creating new and diverse knowledge, much of which can be bent and transformed toward the needs of agriculture. To meet these diversifying needs, the directors have hired scientists with varied talents and backgrounds. The prime requisites are quality of the scientist, since he must provide the ideas for research, and his effectiveness in cooperation, since an increasing number of problems require the application of two or more scientific disciplines. Station directors and CSRS scientists continually emphasize quality and relevance of State station programs of research. This includes the quality and promise of research proposals, which are closely scrutinized by State station scientists and the directors before being submitted to the Cooperative State Research Service. In providing more effective service through research, the State station scientists and directors are cooperating closely with departmental research programs. Over 2,300 USDA scientists are located at the State stations. State and USDA agricultural scientists cooperate in research and coordinate their efforts through joint research projects, regional research projects, commodity planning groups, and professional societies. Joint committees of USDA research administrators and State station directors are planning for effective research concentration and development of needed facilities, and a number of station directors and leading State scientists are serving on USDA research advisory committees. State station scientists are also utilizing the growing resources of their parent universities such as libraries, computing centers, special laboratories, and equipment, and they are encouraging graduate students to plan and carry out experiments at the forefronts of science. CSRS is playing a more vital role in research planning at the State stations. I would like to cite one example: CSRS officials are responsible for examining research supported wholly or in part by Hatch or McIntire-Stennis funds. Over the years they have built an environment of mutual respect and confidence so that CSRS scientists are now welcome to review the total research programs of most State stations, federally or nonfederally supported, and make suggestions for their improvement. Beginning in 1955, officials at the North Carolina station believed that one of the State's most important agricultural potentials lay in the field of food processing. By 1957, tentative research plans had been delineated. To test the appropriateness of these plans, the North Carolina station requested from CSRS a comprehensive review of going research and future plans in food science and technology. CSRS scientists and several other nationally known scientists reviewed the program with the North Carolina staff and administrators in Novembor 1957. In July 1961, a Department of Food Science was established which now includes 22 faculty members and 21 graduate students. The 1963 General Assembly appropriated $2,335,000 to provide a new Food Science Building in approximately 3 years. Scientists in the Department have already made contributions in removing off-flavors in milk, prolonging the shelf life of broilers and eggs, and producing sweetpotato and pumpkin flakes which are being put into profitable use by the industry. Their continuing research will contribute to an industry employing approximately 36,000 persons with a payroll in excess of $147 million which have added an estimated $347 million in value to the farm products processed. Practically all of the recommendations of the comprehensive review team have found application or will be effected with the completion of the new Food Science Building. The visiting review panel, of course, can, at best, take only partial credit for these important research developments. However, the value placed on the advice of such visiting experts by the North Carolina staff is further indicated by their request for Dr. R. G. Garner of the CSRS staff and Dr. H. W. Schultz of the Oregon station to return in January of this year to react to additional ideas and to assess research developments. In passing the original Hatch Act of 1887, the Congress was cognizant of several important principles in the administration of Federalgrant funds. They emphasized the importance of agriculture and the contribution research can make to it. They placed confidence in a State official, the director of the State agricultural experiment station, as a responsible research leader who would be familiar with agricultural problems of the State. They respected the integrity of the parent institution of which the experiment station was to be a part. They recognized the need for continuity of support so that long range research objectives could be realized. Subsequent Congresses have shown by their support continuing confidence in these concepts. Similar concepts are represented in the McIntire-Stennis Act. Dr. T. C. Byerly, Administrator of the Cooperative State Research Service, will explain how his agency and the State station directors are discharging the important responsibilities of this valuable trust. Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would be glad to answer any questions on this, and then, if I could, I would like to go off the record to discuss a matter with you. Mr. WHITTEN. Yes. Well, I think your statement covers it rather fully, and we might go off the record at this point. (Discussion off the record.) Mr. WHITTEN. Dr. Byerly, we will be glad to hear from you. You must have some real problems to have such a long statement. Dr. BYERLY. Mr. Chairman, lest you worry about my loquacity prematurely, let me ask permission to enter the statement into the record. Mr. WHITTEN. We shall be glad to do so. (The complete statement of Dr. Byerly follows:) |