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Madison, Wisconsin; and Honey Bee Pesticides/Diseases Research Laboratory, Laramie, Wyoming.

A research laboratory with the two missions you have identified would require a minimum of four research scientists with supporting personnel and operating funds to be truly productive. We estimate that $500,000 would be required annually to fund these scientists at an effective level, assuming the Oklahoma State University has facilities to house them. An additional $100,000 would be required if we would have to furnish facilities as well.

A federal bee research laboratory at Oklahoma State University could make contributions to the hybrid cotton and alfalfa pollination problems and to problems with pesticides that southern beekeepers face. However, we did not request funding for this because of the many higher priority research needs of the food and agriculture sector in consideration of fiscal and manpower constraints of which we are confronted.

Mr. WATKINS. We are trying to find a good byproduct.

PEANUTS

I would like to ask a question about peanuts on the herbicides and how much work we have been doing. Are we solving any of those problems?

A lot of my farmers are hollering at me. I am sorry I did not ask for any details to be sent to me.

Dr. BERTRAND. Mr. Watkins, we have a vigorous program on herbicide use on peanuts and the control of weeds. Dr. Shaw is our specialist. I will call on him.

Dr. SHAW. When we start our approach to weed control in peanuts, number one we try to develop technology that is practical, economical, and safe for harvest.

I grew up on a peanut farm. My brother still makes an excellent living.

Let me tell you the practices we develop we also use on our farm. He does it one way by controlling the weeds in peanuts. He vertillates a herbicide that is so selective that you can disc it into the soil. You get most of the weeds controlled in that practice. If you do not, there are several others that can be applied such as ground cracker, when the peanuts begin to emerge through the soil.

If the weeds emerge above the peanuts, we use the rope wick applicator.

The whole idea is you use that rope wick over the rows, the weeds, such as cockle burrs that tend to overtop the peanuts, can be controlled. Those are the ones that are now becoming very difficult.

I think we do have some very satisfactory selective methods for controlling weeds. Again, as in the case of soybeans, if you move those rows in from 30 inches to about 20 inches, and increase the density of planting the rows, this is a very helpful method of producing a growth early in the season to help shade the weeds and reduce them.

But we use cultural practices, seed preparation, some cultivation. We use pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides. And those that are not controlled in that way, we should be able to take them out with that rope wick.

Mr. WATKINS. Let me mention this. Peanuts are the biggest cash crop in my part of the country. I have spent a lot of time working peanuts myself.

It was very disturbing to me to realize that Oklahoma State University has had quite an extensive program in peanuts, but in my counties, the little experimental program we had with peanuts has been dismissed. It was one of the best learning tools for farm

ers.

We probably have over five acres to eight acres. I have been out there a couple times myself. I think there is nowhere else in my district where they have a little experimental crop. I am very interested in Oklahoma State University being involved.

Peanuts are the biggest cash crop in my 25 counties.

I would like to see experimental work done in Southeast Oklahoma. I had to go off to college to find something new and innovative. The first combine I ever saw was 250 miles north. What I was hoping was that this huge cash crop and this important cash crop would have some kind of priority placed on them to having some experimental work done where the peanuts are grown and not someplace else. The farmers can come by and see what is going on. I hope that can be reinforced. I do not think we are talking about any dollars. I think it is a matter of going down there and working it out.

I feel this is so important to that crop. I know you feel it is important if you have been involved in it also.

Dr. SHAW. We do work closely with the Agricultural Experimental Stations. In fact, the Department of Agronomy there has a scientist trained in weed research, Dr. Santelmann.

He is a very effective department head and a very effective weed scientist.

It is our duty to develop every bit of technology that we can, whether we develop it in Tifton, Georgia, or Lubbock, Texas, or wherever.

Our responsibility to work with our federal and state extension services is to see that any useful practice which can be adjusted with minor additional effort be done.

It is our responsibility to see that information is transferred there rapidly whether we are able under each circumstance to have a scientist on the grounds or not. I happen to think that our county agricultural agents of this country are very effective at doing this.

We cannot make something perfect for those 26 counties that probably was not developed there. But it is our responsibility to make it as nearly perfect as we can and to transfer as high a percentage as we can.

Mr. WATKINS. They do not have a perfect Congressman either. But I do my best.

I would like you to relate that information to my alma mater and let them know I am concerned about it. I would also like to invite you to come to my district sometime to demonstrate this little contraption.

Dr. SHAW. I will come and I will get Dr. Santelmann to come down to help.

WHEAT AND SMALL GRAINS STUDIES

Mr. WATKINS. Also, could you tell me your plans for wheat and small grains studies relating to pest research? We have a number of extremely important greenbug research studies going on at Oklahoma State University in conjunction with federal research that will need your continued support. What are your plans for allocation of personnel for the project? OSU officials indicate that at least 3 researchers are needed to work on the project. However, one individual was transferred from OSU and apparently will not be replaced. Can you submit for the record what the plans will be? Dr. BERTRAND. SEA-AR presently has four entomologists developing technology to control insect pests of small grain crops in the Great Plains. In consultation with officials and scientists at universities and agricultural experiment stations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota, the SEA-AR National Programs Staff established that a team of at least seven entomologists is needed to adequately meet these research needs. This team would include the four entomologists presently assigned, plus three additional scientists. This seven-member team would develop ecologically-based tactics to suppress aphid populations throughout the Great Plains, cooperate with plant breeders to develop high-yielding varieties with multiple insect pest resistance, and develop integrated pest management systems for insect pests such as chinch bugs, cutworms and armyworms which intermittently are very serious pests of small grains. This research team will be established as resources become available.

In 1979, the level of funding for research on control of cereal crop insects was inadequate to support the three scientists assigned to the unit at Stillwater, Oklahoma, and one entomologist was transferred to another high priority, funded position. We do plan to continue the SEA-AR research program on control of insect pests of small grains and will pursue all opportunities for strengthening this research.

LEATHER TANNING INDUSTRY

Mr. WATKINS. Can you submit for the record what research is being conducted at the USDA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, laboratory concerning the leather tanning industry? What is the anticipated level of allocations and projects to be conducted in the future of the hide tanning/preparation industry?

Dr. KINNEY. Current research being conducted at the USDA Eastern Regional Research Center-ERRC-contributes technology to strengthen the leather and tanning industry and thus will improve demand for U.S. cattle hides domestically. This research includes projects for reducing pollution and increasing efficiency by continuous processing in preparation for tanning, basic studies on the mechanical properties and structure of experimentally prepared leather, new concepts in post-tanning processes, development of comprehensive theories of leather composite properties, and new and advanced waste treatment processes specific to tannery needs. In addition, work is conducted on contract with Oklahoma State University on modeling of crust leather manufacture, food uses of

Ton, and irradiation treatment for preservation of hides. All of

these efforts are integrated into technology for the "tannery of the 1980's."

Additionally, work is underway to improve the use of pigskin for leather in U.S. tanneries.

The planned program in tannery and leather research in fiscal 1981 is $2.2 million and is expected to continue at this level in fiscal 1982.

Mr. WATKINS. Thank you.

Mr. TRAXLER. Thank you very much, we appreciate your appearance here today.

[CLERK'S NOTE.-Material previously introduced into the record appears on the following pages:

[Statement of Dr. Bertrand, 154 through 160.] [Statement of Dr. Kinney, 162 through 170.]

[List of completed research projects, 171 through 204.]

[Explanatory Notes, Agricultural Research, 205 through 276.]

SCIENCE AND EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION

Statement of Dr. Anson R. Bertrand, Director, Science and Education
Administration, before the House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development and Related Agencies.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before the Subcommittee to discuss the proposed FY 1982 budget for the Science and Education Administration.

I have with me today the administrators of our major

program units within SEA---Terry Kinney, Agricultural Research; Walter Thomas, Cooperative Research; Mary Nell Greenwood, Extension; Mark Hegsted, Human Nutrition; Richard Farley, Technical Information Systems; and Lark Carter, Higher Education. They will follow me in making formal presentations of the programs and responsibilities under their administration.

Also joining us is

John Victor, Budget Officer for SEA. Together with some of our program directors and specialists seated at the back, we will attempt to respond to the questions the Committee may have about our FY 1982 Budget proposals or about any of our current programs.

At the outset, let me express my sincere appreciation for the guidance and support of this Committee to the programs and activities of the Science and Education Administration. I believe that our successful American Agricultural

system owes much to the long-term support of agricultural research and education by you and your colleagues.

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