EXPLANATION OF PROGRAM

Under the Agriculture-Environmental and Consumer Protection Appropriation Act of 1974, the Agricultural Research Service carries out the following activities:

1. Research on animal production.--Research is conducted to improve livestock productivity (including poultry) through improved breeding, feeding, and management practices and to develop methods for controlling diseases, parasites, and insect pests affecting them.

2. Research on plant production.--Research is conducted to improve plant productivity (including ornamentals, trees, turf, tropical and subtropical crops) through improved varieties of food, feed, fiber, and other plants; develop new crop resources; and improve crop production practices, including methods to control plant disease, nematodes, insects, and weeds.

Plant and Animal Production Efficiency Research is authorized by the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1862 (5 U.S.C. 511) and the Research and Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 427, 4271). These laws authorize the acquiring and diffusing of information on agriculture and the research on production of agricultural commodities and matters related to agriculture. Other laws covering specific research are: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research, Public Law 80-496, April 24, 1948, (21 U.S.C. 113a); Cattle Grub Research, P.L. 80-651, June 16, 1948, (21 U.S.C. 114e, f); Agricultural Engineering Research, P.L, 81-171, July 25, 1949, (42 U.S.C. 147a); Agricultural Programs in the Virgin Islands, P.L. 82-228, October 29, 1951, (48 U.S.C. 1409 m, n, o); Cooperation of States in USDA Programs, P.L. 87-718, September 28, 1962,

U.S.C. 450); Payment of Indirect Costs of Research, P.L. 87-638, September 5, 1962; (no code citation); Cooperative Research Projects, P.L. 88-250, December 20, 1963, 7 U.S.C. 450a; Public Law 69-799, March 4, 1927 (20 U.S.C. 191-194) which authorized the establishment and operation of the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.; and under the Food for Peace Act, Title IV, Section 406(4), p. 12, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to conduct research in tropical and subtropical agriculture.

3. Research on the use and improvement of soil, water, and air.--Research is conducted to improve the management of natural resources, including investigations to improve soil and water management, irrigation, and conservation practices, and to determine the relation of soil types and water to plant, animal, and human nutrition. The research includes studies on hydrologic problems of agricultural watershed and the application of remote sensing techniques in meeting agricultural problems. Research is also conducted on agricultural pollution problems such as protection of plants, animals, and natural resources from harmful effects of soil, water, and air pollutants, and ways to minimize and utilize industry processing wastes of agricultural commodities.

This research is authorized by the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1862 (5 U.S.C. 511) and the Research and Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 427, 4271). Other laws covering specific research are under Sections 1-6 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590 a-f), and under Section 76 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 980). Public Law Number 88-379, July 14, 1964, covers the Water Resources Research Act (7 U.S.C. 301-308). Public Law 92-500, October 18, 1972, covers the Water Pollution and Control Act. Statutory authority affecting this and related pollution research programs includes the National Environmental Policy Acts of 1969 and 1970 (Public Laws 91-190 and 91-224), and such predecessors as the Water Pollution Control Acts (P.L.'s 84-660, 87-88, etc.), the Water Quality Act (P.L. 89-234), and the Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-753). For further reference, see Secretary Hardin's Memorandum No. 1695, 33 U.S.C. 466 and seq., Section 2, P.L. 89-234. In addition, there is the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970

(P.L. 91-224), the Air Quality Act (P.L. 90-148, S. 780, and Section 2, as amended in 42 U.S.C. 1857-18571), the Resource Recovery Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C.A., S. 3251 et seq.), the Refuse Act (33 U.S.C., Sections 407, 407a, 411), th. Rural Development Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-419, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-500).

4. Research on marketing, use and effects of agricultural products.-Research is conducted to develop new and improved foods, feeds, fabrics, and industrial products and processes for agricultural commodities for domestic and foreign markets. Research is conducted on marketing of agricultural products. Studies concern the processing, transportation, storage, wholesaling and retailing of products, to reduce the costs of marketing, to maintain product quality, and to reduce losses from waste and spoilage. Research is conducted on human nutritional requirements, composition, and nutritive value of food needed for consumers and for Federal, State, and local agencies administering food and nutrition programs.

Research is conducted on problems of human health and safety. Studies concern developing means to insure food supplies and products free from toxic or potentially dangerous residues from agricultural sources and processing operations, harmful chemicals, micro-organisms, and from naturally occuring toxins. The research conducted also includes studies concerning means to control insect pests of man and his belongings; prevent transmission of animal disease and parasites to man; reduce the hazards to human life resulting from pesticide residues, toxic molds, tobacco, and other causes; and, develop technology for the detection and destruction of illicit growth of narcotic-producing plants.

Research is conducted on consumer services to measure family use of resources, to identify economic problems of families; and to provide information on fabric performance and the use and care of clothing and household articles by consumers.

Research on housing is conducted to provide knowledge and technology to help bring about improved designs, material, and construction methods for both low-cost renovation and new construction of rural housing suitable for lowto-moderate-income rural residents.

This research is authorized by the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1862 (5 U.S.C. 511); Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938(P.L.75-430), February 16, 1938; the Research and Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 427, 4271), and Title 7, U.S.C., Agriculture, Chapters 17, 35, 38, and 55; The Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691); Public Law 81-171, Agricultural Engineering Research (42 U.S.C. 1476); The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-596) declared it to be the purpose and policy of the Congress to assure safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resource, by (such means as) providing for research in the field of occupational safety and health, and by developing innovative methods, techniques, and approaches for dealing with the problems (Sec. 2). Standards, tolerances and regulations promulgated by USDA and other Federal departments under various statutes and dealing with food and natural fiber products, food additives, residues, and contaminants also support the USDA mission of consumer services and human resource development; and the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health (December 1969) strongly recommended that the USDA conduct a nationwide household food consumption survey every five years.

The projects carried out by this Service and the level of scientific effort directed toward these projects are enumerated below:

INCREASES AND DECREASES

(1) An increase of $3,156,500 for animal production efficiency research, consisting of:

(a An increase of $328,000, for annualization of pay increases effective in FY 1974.

(b) An increase of $369,500 for space rental costs pursuant to P.L. 92-313.

(c) An increase of $2,459,000 for reducing the cost of red meats. ($11, 276, 300 available in 1974)

Need for Increase: BEEF VEAL

The price and' consumption of red meats have been on the rise for the past several years and appear likely to continue in the United States and on a worldwide basis. Retail prices of beef and veal in the United States have increased 48 percent from 1960 to 1972. Per capita consumption increased 29 percent in the same period. Costs of producing red meats are high relative to those for other meats and proteins. Pounds of feed consumed (corn equivalent) per 100 pounds of liveweight production are: beef, 1, 121; hogs, 584; broilers, 250; and turkeys, 538. The development of new research technology would permit livestock producers to keep production costs at a minimum. The principal beneficiaries would be the consuming public as lower production cost would reduce the prices of livestock and could be passed on to the market place. Present reproductive rates in terms of cattle reaching market of breeding age weight, relative to cows exposed to breeding, are estimated at only 78 to 80%. About 15% of cows fail to calve, and 5 to 7% of calves born, die. Integrated research programs aimed at increasing conception rates, increasing multiple births, and reducing pre- and postnatal deaths have a potential for increasing net reproductive rates to 90 and 110% in the future. Reducing excess carcass fat, now estimated at 20% for average choice carcasses, to 15% could save the industry another $300-$400 million per year.

SWINE

Major reproductive problems in swine include stress, embryonic death, artificial insemination, synchronization of estrus, induced and increased ovulation rate, reduced age at puberty, control of sex ratio, and lowering infertility in sows.

With increased size and intensity of swine production units, problems of disease and stress have become increasingly important. Stress from the effects of building systems, handling, climate, and other environmental factors increases the costs of producing pork. A condition known as the pork stress syndrome (PSS: cause unknown) results in death of market-weight hogs. Also each year over 20 million pigs born and valued at $10 each are lost and never reach the market. The immediate postnatal environment, particularly temperature, is critical to the newborn pig. Diseases are costly to swine producers as different diseases occur at different stages in the life cycle of the pig. Neonatal, feeder, and market-weight pigs and the mature breeding herd can be affected. Research leading to prevention and control of diseases and parasites could improve the efficiency of production. Feed accounts for 70% of total pork production costs. Research leading to more precise information on the nutrient requirement for swine at all stages of the life cycle will be required to make significant improvement in the efficiency of pork production.

SHEEP

The current production rate in the national herd is approximately 95% lambs produced of breeding ewes one year old and older. Research progress in breeding, reproduction, management, and reduced mortality along with the use of the imported Finnsheep could increase efficiency of production by 50% as soon as 1980. Increased reproductive rate, along with solution of associated nutrition, management, and breeding problems and adequate predator control, could increase production efficiency enough to make the industry increasingly attractive to farmers and investors. An increase in production from the current 3 pounds per capita per year to 20 pounds or more is achievable in the next 20 years.

Plan of work: Initiate studies geared toward accomplishing the long range goals of the program which would concentrate on the development of (1) improving reproductive efficiency, including research on multiple births in beef and sheep and embryo survival in swine; (2) management systems for life cycle production in different resource situations; (3) determination of causative agents of calf scours and enteric diseases of cattle; (4) prevention of baby pig diseases--management systems encompassing the gestation and lactation periods via sanitation procedures, optimal nutritional conditions, rotation of pens, etc., in an attempt to control diarrhea; (5) reduction of perinatal calf losses; (6) studies of physical and chemical treatment of feeds, appetite, maintenance, digestion, metabolic processes and tissue deposition; (7) genetic variation for providing productive efficiency and product merit; (8) biological type as related to adaptation to feeds and environment; (9) procedures for effectively utilizing hybrid vigor, (10) alleviation of stresses from humidity and temperature; (11) reducing excess fat from carcasses; and (12) improving selection aids, techniques and breeding systems for sheep.

An additional $653,000 for this specific program increase is proposed under the project-plant production efficiency research.

(2) An increase of $3,284,500 for plant production efficiency research, consisting of:

(a) An increase of $733,800, for annualization of pay increase effective in FY 1974.

(b) An increase of $611,700 for space rental costs pursuant to P.L. 92-313.

(c) An increase of $311,000 for research to improve oil crop production for domestic uses and exports. ($2,071,200 available in 1974)

Need for Increase: The demand for soybeans has risen steadily both domestically and for export. The severe shortage this year from the rather unanticipated over-bidding for existing supplies has resulted in unusually high prices. While such high prices are not expected after new crop soybeans appear on the market, the future demand is likely to continue the upward trend of the past, both at home and abroad. Yields of soybeans have not kept pace with those of other crops. In addition, the trend toward increased yields has flattened out--even more so than for other crops. Nematodes have become an increasingly serious problem. More acreage could be devoted to soybean production, but this would probably be at the expense of feed grains in the long run. Demand for the latter appears to be increasing also, so there is a definite limit to reducing this acreage. Research to increase yields of both feed grains and soybeans are in order, but the most urgent need is for soybean yields.