Mr. WHITTEN. Gentlemen, the committee will come to order. We should like to have pages 33 through 36 and page 48 of the justifications put in the record at this point. (The material referred to follows:) STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE PURPOSE STATEMENT The Statistical Reporting Service was established by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1446, supplement 1, of April 3, 1961, under Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 and other authorities. The Service was created to give coordinated leadership to the statistical reporting research and service programs of the Department. It provides a channel for the orderly flow of statistical intelligence about the agricultural economy of this country. The primary responsibilities of this Service are the nationwide crop and livestock estimates, coordination, and improvement in the Department's statistical requirements, and special surveys of market potentials for agricultural products. Service programs are organized under the following major areas: 1. Crop and livestock estimates, including estimates of production, supply, price, and other aspects of the agricultural economy; conduct of enumerative and objective measurement surveys; preparation and issuance of the official National and State estimates and reports of the Department relating to acreages, types and production of farm crops, number of livestock on farms, livestock products, stocks of agricultural commodities, value and utilization of farm products, prices received and paid by farmers, and other subjects as required. 2. Statistical research and service, including review, clearance, coordination, and improvement of statistics in the Department; research on and development of improved statistical techniques used in gathering and evaluating statistical data; data processing activities, with related systems analysis and research, programing and processing of data; research on consumers' preferences on foods, fibers, and their byproducts and consumers' evaluation of costs and other factors when buying these products. 3. Research under section 104 (a) and (k) of Public Law 480: Services are performed in connection with the execution and development of studies conducted overseas with foreign currencies by research institutions in foreign countries. Professional personnel review for technical adequacy these projects prior to the contract execution phase, thereafter, periodically appraise progress and methods used in carrying out the work, and review the resulting final reports. That portion of these explanatory notes applicable to the special foreign currency programs of the Agricultural Research Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service contain discussions of 104 (a) and (k) activities. 4. Work performed for others: The Service also performs services for other Federal, State, and private agencies, on a reimbursable or advance payment basis. These include among others the AID foreign visitor training program, farmers' expenditures and wage-and-hour surveys for the Department of Labor, and various data collection activities for the Bureau of the Census and other organizations. The Statistical Reporting Service maintains a central office in Washington, D.C., but a large part of the crop and livestock program is carried on through 43 State offices. On November 30, 1962, there were 1,125 full-time employees, of whom 643 were in the field. In addition, there were 304 part-time and intermittent employees, primarily in the field. Appropriation: Estimated available, 1963_. $10, 005, 000 11, 552, 000 Appropriation Act, 1963_. Salaries and expenses Transferred to "Operating Expenses, Public Buildings Service, Gen- Base for 1964_. Budget estimate, 1964 Increase_. $9,693, 000 -3, 000 315, 000 10, 005, 000 11, 552, 000 +1, 547, 000 SUMMARY OF INCREASES AND DECREASES, 1964 To extend to additional States the first phase of the long-range crop For reimbursement to the Post Office Department for certain mail For postal costs pursuant to Public Law 87-793- Net increase_ +1, 045, 000 +80, 000 +106, 000 -8,000 +75,000 +249, 000 +1, 547, 000 1 Represents obligations. Applied costs for 1962 are $8,724,973. The difference of $2,657 reflects, primarily, the excess of equipment, supplies, and materials used over those ordered and received in 1962. Includes $5,700 estimated to be transferred to "Salaries and Expenses, General Administration," during fiscal year 1963 for the Office of the Inspector General. STATEMENT OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER ALLOTMENTS AND OTHER FUNDS (Includes only those amounts which, by November 30, 1962, were actually received or programed for 1963 and 1964. Since work for other agencies is performed on a service basis, at the request of those agencies and for their benefit, it is not practicable to estimate in advance the amounts to be received in some cases.) Mr. WHITTEN. We are pleased to have you, Dr. Trelogan, along with your associates here. I think we on the committee are fully aware of the tremendous value that your service renders to American business. I know that, from my own experience as chairman of this subcommittee I am continuously beseeched by representatives of American business wanting more statistics, and wanting them more often. Every time they hear of the Congress providing them in an area, everybody else wants similar service, and makes a fairly good case as to how they can use it. I mention this at the outset, because the budget request is $11,552,000, which is a million and a half more than last year. I know you are experienced in this field, Dr. Trelogan, so I mention it at this time so that you might know that it is not just this subcommittee you need to sell but you must give us the basis on which we, in turn, can sell this as a very necessary service to those that we have to get to endorse our check, so to speak. So, with that statement, we will be glad to have you proceed in any way you like. Dr. TRELOGAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the problem. INTRODUCTION OF NEW WITNESSES Before I start my testimony, I would like to introduce five of the men on my staff who I don't believe have appeared before the committee before; Mr. Glenn Simpson, Deputy Administrator; Mr. Russell P. Handy, Director, Field Operations Division; Dr. Bruce Kelly, who is directly in charge of our research work on crop and livestock estimating: Mr. Richard Smith; Director, Agricultural Estimates Division; and Chris Stokstad, who is Assistant to the Administrator. 95910-63-pt. 3-9 Mr. WHITTEN. We are glad to have you, gentlemen. We will be glad to have you prepare a brief biographical sketch for the record showing your prior experience and background. (The information referred to follows:) GLENN D. SIMPSON, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND CHAIRMAN, CROP REPORTING BOARD Born and raised in Wyoming. University of Wyoming, June 1932, B.S. degree. Graduate study in statistics, mathematics, and economics at Iowa State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School. Entered U.S. Department of Agriculture as junior agricultural statistician, March 1934, and assigned to the Wyoming office. In July 1938, assigned to direct agricultural estimates research project in sampling, located in New York City. September 1939 assigned to Statistical Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. January 1940, transferred to Washington, D.C., and assigned to assist with U.S. Census of Agriculture. November 1942, entered U.S. Marine Corps and discharged in January 1946 as lieutenant colonel, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Assignments since 1946 include head, analytical section, special statistics branch, and head, livestock section, livestock and poultry statistics branch. In July 1951, assigned duties as Secretary, Crop Reporting Board, and in July 1955 was designated Deputy Director for Field Operations for the Agricultural Estimates Division. Appointed as Director, Field Operations Division, Statistical Reporting Service, in April 1961. Appointed Deputy Administrator, and Chairman, Crop Reporting Board, Statistical Reporting Service, April 1, 1962. RUSSELL P. HANDY, DIRECTOR, FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION Mr. Handy was born in Grassy Creek, N.C., on August 13, 1917. He was reared on a small mountain farm, and graduated from North Carolina State College with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics in 1939. He took graduate work at the same college, and began his career in the North Carolina agricultural statisticians office. Mr. Handy served in the Armed Forces from 1943 to 1946. He served as an agricultural statistician in North Carolina and New Jersey, and was placed in charge of the West Virginia office in 1950. He served there until 1958, when he was transferred to the same position in Ohio. Early in 1961 he was appointed acting chief of the fruits and vegetables branch in the Agricultural Estimates Division in Washington, until he assumed his present position as Director of Field Operations Division. R. K. SMITH, DIRECTOR, AGRICULTURAL ESTIMATES DIVISION University of Illinois, B.S. 1927; graduate work in USDA graduate school in statistics, mathematics, and economics. Employed in the Crop and Livestock Estimating Service since September 1927. Worked in the Illinois office until May 1931 when he was transferred into division headquarters in Washington to serve as assistant in the dairy statistics programs. Later he was put in charge of the Grain, Hay, and Feed Section. In 1943, appointed assistant head of the division and vice chairman of the Crop Reporting Board. Chairman of the Year Book Statistical Committee from 1945 to date. Served as Deputy Director, Agricultural Estimates Division from 1946 through March 1961. Appointed as Director, Agricultural Estimates Division. SRS, April 1961. CHRISTIAN A. STOKSTAD, ASSISTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR, SRS Mr. Stokstad was born in Story City, Iowa, on June 11, 1917. He attended the University of California at Berkeley and received a B.S. degree in 1938. He did graduate work in agricultural economics at the University of California and Iowa State College. He went to work for USDA in February 1941. He served in the U.S. Navy from February 1942 to July 1946. He returned to work in the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in Portland, Oreg., and in January 1950 transferred to Washington, D.C. From 1953 to 1962 he served as an agricultural statistician in the Seattle, Wash., and Washington, D.C., offices of the Statistical Reporting Service. His current assignment is assistant to the Administrator, SRS. BRUCE WILLIAM KELLY, CHIEF, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BRANCH Dr. Kelly was born on October 6, 1911, at Clintwood, Va. He received a B.S.E. degree in 1938, an M.A. degree in 1950, and his Ph. D. degree (economics), in 1953 at the University of Florida. He served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1948 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was an instructor of economics at the University of Florida from 1951 to 1953, and an assistant economist at the Florida Experiment Station from 1953 to 1957. His service with the Department of Agriculture began in 1955 as an agricultural statistician. In 1960, he was made chief of the Research and Development Branch, Statistical Reporting Service. At present he is a member of the American Statistical Association and the Farm Economics Association. GENERAL STATEMENT Dr. TRELOGAN. Discussion of the 1964 budget proposals for the Statistical Reporting Service may be introduced by quickly reviewing in broad perspective the functions of the agency to better identify how proposals for new work fit into an established system. CROP AND LIVESTOCK ESTIMATES The Statistical Reporting Service is the primary data collecting agency for agriculture in the Department. Collection, processing, and reporting of statistics are oriented toward furnishing State and National data to enable farmers, commercial businesses, administrators, and legislators to make more intelligent decisions in planning for the production, handling, pricing and disposition of farm output. The bulk of the data is obtained for the purpose of estimating current and prospective supplies of farm products. At the beginning of each crop year information is assembled from farmers to reflect the land, labor, and other resources expected to be devoted to farm production. During the growing season the progress of the crop is followed to indicate probable yields. From these data forecasts of production are issued prior to harvest. After harvest the utilization of products is accounted for to verify the production estimates or to indicate revisions in the preliminary estimates that may be warranted. Livestock and livestock products estimates are founded on inventory information of animals on farms brought together at the beginning of each calendar year. The seasonal aspects of livestock production are indicated monthly and quarterly in terms of estimates of cattle-on-feed, hog production, eggs, milk, and meat production. Forecasts of market supplies are based on intentions to breed, hatchings, and other indications of probable output. Throughout the year monthly estimates of manufactured food products are based on data. assembled from processing plants and handlers, as well as farmers. Yearend reviews are conducted to confirm the monthly estimates and account for the utilization of the products. |