SUMMARY OF FULL STATEMENT Mr. TEMPLE. I would like to touch on some of the high points that we are proposing to discuss in this particular presentation. We are asking for funds of approximately $399,000 and the primary purpose of what we want to do and what we are doing with the Crops Research Laboratory at Madison, Wis., is to focus all of the different research being done in the United States, universities, and other USDA research, supported by industry in the carrot and process pickling industry, through a clearinghouse in order to utilize all of the research work that is being done in North, South, East, and West parts of the United States. We have a considerable amount of research going on, which is interrelated, and we do not have the people that could act as a clearinghouse and utilize more fully the research information that we have. There is a lot of research going on in your part of the country that is related to research that is going on in the North and the West, but as I mentioned, no central clearinghouse. We are choosing Madison primarily because of the outstanding competence of people at this particular location. As you know, it is not my home State but we are picking an area where we feel that the people are there who could do the job for this particular industry. ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES Some of the things that we are hoping to accomplish are in the area of ecology. We know that we have an opportunity to develop varieties which are disease-resistant and insect-resistant, which will eliminate some of the problems that we are having with insecticide and pesticide sprays. We also would like to have some research done in the area of fundamental research in nutrition. We know we have great potential in the nutritional value of many of these different crops. We feel, as other groups who have come before you, that it is only a matter of time before society will need to utilize to its fullest extent the capacities and abilities of these different vegetable crops for human food. Mr. Chairman, I would entertain any questions that you may have. I do not want to bore you with a lot of detail here. FUNDING AND PERSONNEL PROBLEMS Mr. WHITTEN. I appreciate the way you have presented this matter. Of course, your full statement will have the thorough study of the committee. I repeat again-and I know perhaps you heard the earlier statements that one of the problems we have is the matter of personnel ceilings and the freeze on funds that we have had throughout the Government. When I say that I am trying not to be unduly critical of those who are faced with a big national spending deficit, I personally have my own views about which things come first. I think the protection of our land and our resources perhaps come as high as anything, but nothing else could come any higher than the continuing need for research. IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH I think I am correct that the records show that if we had the type of products that we had some 25 years ago the American consumer would be paying out about 50-percent more or in fact some would go hungry. I think for diseases of wheat alone, if I am not mistaken, you can say that every 5 years you have to have a completely new variety because over a 5-year period, whatever wheat you are using becomes susceptible to disease from a new strain of an old disease. When that happens, such as we almost saw happen in corn last year, you cannot expect to have a new variety right away. You have to develop the seed to have it available in quantity. You are talking about pickles. The point I am trying to make is that this is true across the board. So while I think we are certainly faced with the dire necessity to bring our spending within reasonable bounds, if we are going to control inflation, we are still going to have to decide whether we had not better keep the roof on the house and let some of the outlying buildings go down a little bit. We appreciate your presentation and the committee certainly will give it consideration. Mr. TEMPLE. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your time. If I may I would like to insert a statement of the needs of the U.S. Crops Research Division, Madison, Wis. Mr. WHITTEN. Be glad to have that in the record. (The information follows:) 4. NEEDS FOR BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN PHYSIOLOGY, The purpose of this brochure is to present information in support of a joint research investigations project in behalf onions, carrots and processing cucumbers. WHAT IS NEEDED The present Laboratory Staff at Madison, Wisconsin should be increased by additional and complementary skills in plant pathology, plant physiology and genetics. Seven technical man years per year, or approximately $399,000 per annum are needed.* *computed at $57,000 per scientist man-year includes sub-professional help, operating budget, supplies, equipment and travel. WHY HELP IS NEEDED Onions and carrots now are provided with a national research investigations organization thru the U.S.D.A. but are operating with very limited manpower and facilities. Inclusion of processing cucumbers besides being a natural combination, would provide justification for a broad based research project requiring the facilities and additional disciplines of other professional scientists. With increased emphasis on nutrition and the economic insistence of mechanical harvesting, new factors requiring fundamental research have been introduced into agriculture beyond the ability of either commercial interests or individual state projects. POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED UTILIZATION OF VEGETABLE CROPS Growers and processors have entered an era requiring vastly increased sophistication in products and in the improved raw product intake systems necessitated by requirements of mechanization. Onions, carrots, and pickles are good diversification crops providing alternatives to high volume-low margin commodity crops. 1. Onions, carrots and pickles are a good cash income crop. and ready cash crop. 2. Pickling cucumbers rank among the 10 high vegetable crops for processing and onion and carrot acceptance has been increased a. Per capita consumption of pickles was 2.2 pounds in 1944, but increased to 7.3 pounds by 1969. The application of discoveries based on present knowledge and direction should lead to an increased use of onions, carrots and pickling cucumbers. |