Incipient and emergency outbreaks of insect pests and plant diseases-Approximate expenditures by crop seasons from 1937 to 1941, inclusive [Excludes supplies and materials purchased by Federal funds and on hand at beginning of season. Excludes labor, use of equipment, and operations performed by individuals contributing to the control operations] Expenditures, 1937 Expenditures, 1941 Activity Expenditures, 1938 Expenditures, 1939 Expenditures, 1940 1 Includes only direct expenditures by State and local governmental agencies for cooperation. 3 State contribution on basis of fiscal, not crop, year. 4 Not now available. age quarters, part-time assistance of regular employees and similar contributions needed to affect a coordinated cooperative program. 5 To provide for work to June 30, 1942. 6 Used for surveys to determine status of chinch bugs. Amount of State contribution estimated. ? Not now available. State of Washington has specific appropriation of $200,000 for biennum 1941-42. 8 Not available. Activity is for status surveys. • All work on Federal land. No State contribution. Does not include estimated value of contributions such as office and stor Grasshoppers. Mormon crickets. White-fringed beetle 3. Chinch bugs. Legume weevil. Mole cricket. Parlatoria scale. COMBATING SCREW WORM The CHAIRMAN. A year or two ago, in the annual supply bill, we made a very heavy appropriation to combat the screwworm. Mr. ROHWER. That is correct. The CHAIRMAN. I see you recommend nothing for that pest this year. Does that mean you have it under control? Mr. ROHWER. We used $6,500 last year to help combat the screwworm in parts of Arizona and West Texas, near the Mexican border, where they were importing a good many cattle for feeding. The season was favorable for the screwworm and there was the beginning of a very heavy infestation. We allocated $6,500 for work there and helped the farmers in the suppression of a very severe infestation that was starting. The screwworm is a pest that occurs annually, but the appropriation made a number of years ago was one primarily to educate the farmers on how to live with the screwworm, and that has been done pretty well. The CHAIRMAN. You think that has been pretty well successfully accomplished? Mr. ROHWER. Yes. UNEXPENDED BALANCE OF FUNDS FROM PREVIOUS APPROPRIATIONS The CHAIRMAN. How soon will you need the funds requested here? Mr. ROHWER. We ought to have the money in the very near future, because the amounts allocated are all being expended. The allocations of that $514,700 were made some time ago and right now Mormon crickets are occuring in parts of Oregon; they have emerged and we have been doing actual control work. The rapidity with which they emerge elsewhere and earliness of the season elsewhere where control is to be carried on will have an effect on how soon available funds are exhausted. The CHAIRMAN. What funds do you have on hand at the present time? Mr. ROHWER. We had, at the time the tables were prepared, which was February 1, $514,700. The CHAIRMAN. And you are using those funds at the present time? Mr. ROHWER. We are using them now and the grasshopper fund will last probably until the 15th of April. The CHAIRMAN. You think these funds should be available by the 1st of May? Mr. ROHWER. By that time, or sooner. AMOUNT ESTIMATED FOR PERSONNEL The CHAIRMAN. How much of the estimate here is for personnel and how much for materials? Mr. ROHWER. The amount for personnel is $999,696. That is divided into wages for labor and for people appointed. It is estimated, during the period covered by the estimate, we will appoint for periods of 12 months to a month or more. 624 individuals. These will be employed under regular appointments and the salaries paid to them will total $456,780, or an average seasonal compensation of about $750. Some of those people will be full-time employees, and their compensation for the crop year will be considerably greater. The CHAIRMAN. How many employees have you who devote their entire time to this work? Mr. ROHWER. There are about 45 that are carried the full year. That includes work on the white-fringed beetle and a little grasshopper organization which we carry through, and a Mormon cricket organization. The CHAIRMAN. What is the situation with respect to the appropriation for the white-fringed beetle? Can we expect to carry that indefinitely, or will you, in a few years, be able to reduce that expenditure, or to eliminate it? Mr. ROHWER. The appropriation for the white-fringed beetle will probably be carried on for a number of years. It is not unlike the Japanese beetle, the gypsy moth, and the pink bollworm, and we have recommended that item be included in the regular bill, but that has not been approved. DISTRIBUTION OF ESTIMATE FOR PERSONNEL AND OTHER EXPENSES The CHAIRMAN. Now, break down your other expenses here for the remainder of this, taking out the $999,000. Mr. ROHWER. Of the amount, $117,860 is to be used for travel. Now, travel there does not mean the brass-hats travel; it is travel of the field agents in supervising actual operations. The per diem rates for those people varying from $3.50 to $5, depending on the nature of the travel, area covered, and duration of absence from headquarters. The CHAIRMAN. I wish you would put in the record a break-down showing, item by item, how the remainder of this is to be spent. Mr. ROHWER. I have a detailed itemization. (The information requested is as follows:) Itemization, in standard form, of proposed expenditures for the control of incipient and emergency outbreaks of insect pests and plant diseases for the crop year 1942 Itemization, in standard form, of proposed expenditures for the control of incipient and emergency outbreaks of insect pests and plant diseases for the crop year 1942-Continued To cooperate with States in combatting chinch bugs, unitemized Deduct amount available from appropriation in First Deficiency Act, 1941. Total estimate.. 13, 700 36, 630 7,500 43, 000 493, 634 15,000 879, 324 1, 869, 020 445, 680 50,000 -514, 700 1, 850, 000. Detailed break-down of major items of proposed expenditures 01 Grasshopper: Total. 163, 057 Mormon cricket: Employed on annual basis but may work only part of year on project... Total.. White-fringed beetle: 135, 219 Employed on annual basis but may work only part of year on project... Total. Pear psylla: 339, 960 Employed on annual basis but may work only part of year on project... 1 The 624 individuals under appointment would receive $456,780 or an average of about $750 for a season's work. |