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Mr. TRAXLER. What new food products were developed in the past year as a result of your research?

Dr. KINNEY. Although our laboratories do not engage in product development per se, we are confident that much of the scientific information developed in our laboratories provides the basis for industrial development of new and improved products. For example, we expect that the food industry will utilize the recently developed explosion puff drying principle for making a variety of new dehydrated food products, and our studies on food fermentation systems for processing whole soybeans are expected to result in a variety of new fermented food products.

AGRISTARS

Mr. TRAXLER. For the past few years, we have also discussed the use of remote sensing in estimating crop yields. Last year, Dr. Kinney, you seemed to be quite proud of your efforts, and excited about your cooperative agreements. As you remember, however, members of this Committee were also interested in how the system could be used immediately, rather than simply as a research project. You had a rather brief section on aerospace technology in your prepared remarks. Could you expand at this point your accomplishments and problems with this project in the past year?

Dr. KINNEY. The SEA remote sensing program is a research effort designed to better understand the application of remote sensing technology for providing information on agricultural systems and the environment. Selected examples of accomplishments are as follows:

Based on research by SEA-AR scientists, and in cooperation with the Foreign Agricultural Service-FAS-a model was developed that indicates areas where extremely cold weather could have caused a significant killing of winter wheat seedlings. This system is now being used operationally by FAS to help their analysts determine areas where potential problems in wheat production could occur.

SEA-AR scientists cooperated with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-NOAA-scientists in the development of the capability using NOAA satellites estimating solar radiation. This system is now being tested operationally in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Solar radiation information is critical for the understanding of crop growth and is useful in many other applications, such as estimating water evaporation, irrigation scheduling, and energy use.

SEA-AR scientists, in cooperation with other USDA, NOAA, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration-NASA-scientists, have developed the operational capability to extract and display spectral data from NOAA satellites. This system will be implemented by FAS to provide another source of data for their analysts to use in analyzing crop conditions worldwide.

SEA-AR scientists have shown that water stress in crops can be detected by measuring crop canopy temperature using either handheld instruments or satellites. The scientists demonstrated that these data could be used to schedule applications of irrigation water. This technique was tested last year by a farmer in California using hand-held instruments. The farmer plans to use the

technique again. Farmers in Kansas and Nebraska have expressed interest in this approach to irrigation scheduling.

A corn stress model developed by an SEA-AR scientists was tested on the 1980 corn crop by FAS analysts and SEA scientists. The model provides information on potential problems in corn production to aid FAS analysts.

Mr. TRAXLER. Has the cooperation from other agencies been sufficient?

Dr. KINNEY. SEA scientists have had good cooperation with other USDA, NOAA, and NASA scientists in their research effort on the application of remote sensing technology to agricultural systems. SEA scientists are providing basic information on agricultural systems; other USDA agencies are providing an understanding of operational systems, and NASA and NOAA scientists are providing an understanding of satellite and sensor systems.

Mr. TRAXLER. Is this project in any jeopardy as a result of proposed budget changes of the past month?

Dr. KINNEY. The increase requested for fiscal 1982 has not been changed.

Mr. TRAXLER. If you could do what you believe is best with this project, thinking as a scientist and not a budget officer, how would you modify or utilize this project, including the information you have gained from it to date?

Dr. KINNEY. The SEA remote sensing research program on detection of stress in agricultural systems, on the development of better crop growth in models, on the assessment of pollution and the effectiveness of conservation practices, and on the use of remotely sensed data for input to hydrology, soil moisture, conservation, pollution, and crop models is providing a basic understanding of the application of remote sensing technology to provide data on agricultural systems. We feel that this is a sound scientific approach to meeting the needs of agriculture and the country.

PICKLE, ONION AND CARROT RESEARCH

Mr. TRAXLER. Are you proposing any changes in the funding levels for pickle, onion, and carrot research, either at the Wisconsin or North Carolina facilities? We had some confusion last year as to whether or not these projects were being fully funded, and I want to avoid any similar misunderstanding this year.

Dr. KINNEY. We are proposing no changes in funding levels for pickle, onion, and carrot research in Wisconsin or North Carolina, other than what may be mandated by general funding reductions imposed on our agency.

DAIRY FORAGE RESEARCH CENTERS

Mr. TRAXLER. I believe that you now have your cluster locations for the dairy forage research center, including the location at Michigan State University, in operation. Can you describe for us the type of work to be done at each location, and the amount of funds and number of personnel associated with each location?

Dr. KINNEY. In addition to $922,000 at the Center in Madison, the cluster locations and the type of work, funding and number of personnel for each location will be submitted for the record.

[The information follows:]

East Lansing, Michigan. Development of a systems approach to forage management and means to reduce quality deterioration in forages. $175,000, one scientist. Columbia, Missouri. Improvement of forage content of minerals and other nutrients, and forage production practices and utilization. $175,000 planned, scientist not hired yet.

Wooster, Ohio. Improvement of silage utilization and development of improved grass and legume varieties. $125,000, scientist not hired yet.

St. Paul, Minnesota. Evaluate forage sources of protein and digestible energy, and preservation procedures for silage. $125,000, one scientist.

Ames, Iowa. Improve digestibility of forages and develop energy efficient forage production systems. $125,000 planned, scientist not hired yet.

Ithaca, New York. Develop methods to increase utilization of forage nutrients by dairy cattle, including improved fermentation by rumen microorganisms. $200,000, one scientist.

University Park, Pennsylvania. Develop ways to establish forages with minimum tillage and improve forage quality measurement procedures and forage utilization by dairy cows. $125,000, scientist not hired yet.

Mr. TRAXLER. Have there been any problems in staffing these facilities as a result of the hiring freeze?

Dr. KINNEY. Yes. We offered a position to a scientist for the Ohio location and to a scientist for the Pennsylvania location. Both scientists accepted but their appointments were blocked by the freeze. Progress on hiring scientists for the Missouri and Iowa clusters has also been impacted by the freeze.

Mr. TRAXLER. Are there any changes from the Carter budget in the funding levels you are describing to us today?

Dr. KINNEY. No, there are not. Our fiscal year 1982 budget includes an increase of $300,000 for basic research in dairy cattle nutrition and engineering.

ANIMAL PROTECTION RESEARCH

Mr. TRAXLER. You also briefly described in your statement an increase of funds for animal protection research. Can you tell us how this increase will be used, and how the other funds in the animal protection research program are being used?

Dr. KINNEY. Current animal protection research funds are used to support research on diseases and pests affecting livestock. The research includes comprehensive studies involving virology, bacteriology, parasitology, biochemistry, endocrinology, entomology, immunology, and genetics. The research aim is primarily to develop improved methods to diagnose, control, or eradicate livestock diseases of major economic importance such as salmonellosis in poultry, mastitis in cattle, and pseudorabies in swine, or those of public health importance such as brucellosis and tuberculosis. This research is performed at various USDA animal disease research laboratories or at universities through cooperative agreements. The increase in funds for animal protection research will primarily be used to fund cooperative agreements at universities, to develop improved methods of disease, parasite and insect control in livestock and poultry. Research will include the development of methods to control respiratory and enteric diseases of cattle and swine, scrapie and other slow virus diseases of sheep, respiratory diseases of poultry, and methods to control insects which affect livestock, either as parasites or through transmission of diseases. The research will employ recent technological advances such as genetic

engineering, cell-mediated immunity, monoclonal antibodies, and subunit vaccines.

ANIMAL RESEARCH

Mr. TRAXLER. I discussed the general issue of animal agriculture research briefly with Secretary Block when he was before us. He noted that the conference held in Michigan in May of 1980, "Animal Agriculture: Research to Meet Human Needs in the 21st Century," helped to establish certain priorities for future animal research. The Secretary also indicated that animal research should receive a major emphasis, and I am in complete agreement with him on that point. Can you give me your general assessment of our animal agriculture research needs?

Dr. KINNEY. There have been no substantive increases in research funds for animal agriculture during the past 20 years.

There is a need for a substantial increase in funds for basic and applied research with animals. The basic research is needed to generate new technology. The applied research is needed to provide information for producers that can be used on the farm to improve the efficiency of producing animal products.

The proceedings of the conference on "Animal Agriculture: Research to Meet Human Needs in the 21st Century" does an excellent job of identifying the highest priorities in animal research. The research areas directly related to improving the efficiency of animal production identified in the conference include:

Firstly, animal reproduction and genetics. Specific research needs in this area are: improving the efficiency of reproduction; utilization of germplasm; and basic research to increase muscle growth and protein production.

Secondly, animal nutrition and digestive physiology. Research needs in this area are: cellular processes associated with protein synthesis and animal growth; microbiology of the digestive system; nutrient conservation controlling feed intake; nutrition of conventional feed sources; and nutritional characterization of feedstuffs. Thirdly, animal health. Research needs in this area are: genetic engineering for disease resistance and immunity; development of an interdisciplinary systems approach to prevent and reduce diseases in animals; research to reduce hazards to food animals from chemical agents; and research to eliminate human health hazards. About 20 of USDA's top animal scientists participated in the planning of the Michigan conference and in the development of the research priorities at the conference. In general, we in the USDA believe that the research needs identified in the Michigan conference are to research areas that warrant additional funding to insure the efficiency production of high-quality food from animals at reasonable prices.

Mr. TRAXLER. To what extent have the findings of the Michigan conference helped you in establishing research goals?

Dr. KINNEY. The Michigan conference on animal agriculture was extremely broad in scope, covering all areas of research of concern to policymakers, producers, and consumers to insure the production of an adequate supply of nutritious and wholesome food from animals. The research goals identified at the conference will be extremely important in developing long-range research programs

for the future. They are currently being used by industry, state, and USDA research organizations in planning for future programs. Mr. TRAXLER. Do you know at this point what your position will be in terms of requests for research authorization when you go. before the legislative Agriculture Committees?

Dr. KINNEY. The Department is currently formulating specific recommendations on the revision of Title XIV of the Farm Bill and those recommendations are not yet complete. However, the Department has reaffirmed its support for research in animal productivity. Animal health is viewed as an important part of the needs. Mr. TRAXLER. How do you believe your current animal research posture compares with our actual needs?

Dr. KINNEY. Current funding for animal research is clearly inadequate to generate new technology necessary to produce food from animals at reasonable cost in the future. The report of the Regional and National Planning Committees and National Research Planning Committee to the Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences, July 1980, identifies an increase of 20 percent by 1984 for animal research. The proceedings of the Michigan conference on animal agriculture identified the high-priority research needs in animal agriculture. On the basis of the recommendations in the Michigan conference, a significant increase over the 20 percent is needed on animal research in the next 10 years to insure the public of a nutritious, high-quality diet at reasonable prices.

TOXICOLOGY RESEARCH

Mr. TRAXLER. Secretary Block also told me that he plans to maintain USDA's capacity to do toxicology research at a high level. We also discussed this subject last year. At that time, you told me that it was necessary to develop a supply of trained people to do the job. As I understand the situation, young researchers are often attracted by the higher salaries of private industry, leaving a void in your ability to meet this most critical need. Has there been any change in conditions in the past year?

Dr. KINNEY. Young researchers with all levels of toxicological training and expertise, and in addition those trained in pathology, continue to be attracted by the higher salaries of private industry; however, we have been fortunate in this last year in attracting a few very well qualified recent Ph.D.'s with expertise in specific areas of toxicological research. We are continuing with graduate training programs with universities near USDA laboratories in an attempt to develop qualified scientists.

Mr. TRAXLER. You also told me that your facilities to do toxicology research are understaffed. Has this situation changed at all? Dr. KINNEY. Our facilities for toxicological research remain understaffed for a variety of reasons in addition to the shortage of trained personnel. These include personnel ceilings and budget constraints brought about by competing needs for funds for other research. We are working to synchronize hiring of new trained personnel with a planned, orderly development of our toxicological research facilities.

Mr. TRAXLER. Do you believe that some type of cooperative agreement with other institutions might be in our best interest of meeting toxicology research needs?

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