ADP CONTRACTING

Mr. WHITTEN. On page 18 of the ADP Notes it is stated that, SEA-wide, further acceleration of contracting out activities will result in an estimated increase of $530,000. Is TIS involved in this contracting out?

Dr. BERTRAND. In accordance with A-76 policy, which specifically mentions libraries, TIS is currently contracting out certain ADP projects. However, TIS has no plans to increase the level of this activity in fiscal year 1982.

CRIS RESEARCH WORK UNIT

Mr. WHITTEN. Please provide for the record a representative example of a research work unit in the CRIS system. What is the procedure in this system for updating or purging aged information?

Dr. BERTRAND. The definition of a CRIS work unit is a clearly defined problem, a phase of a very big problem or a few closely related elements of research that constitute a logical and manageable package at a single location. We will provide a SEA CRIS work unit at the R. B. Russell Agricultural Research Center in Athens, Georgia.

[The information follows:]

TITLE: IMPROVEed Forage ProTEIN UTILIZATIOn in Ruminants as AffecteD BY

DIGESTIBLE ENERGY

CRIS Accession Number: 44809; Work Unit Number: 7902-20521-005; Start Date: Oct. 6, 1978; Estimated Termination Date: Oct. 6, 1981; Principal Investigator: H.E. Amos; Performing Organization: USDA-SEA; Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 5677, Athens, Ga. 30613.

Objectives.-Maximize the use of protein in Southern forages by increasing the amount of digestible energy available to the ruminant for tissue protein synthesis. Approach. Increase the quantity of digestible energy and forage protein available for tissue synthesis in ruminants by: Chemical (e.g., alkali) treatment of forage fiber to increase digestible dry matter; chemical (e.g., HCOH) or heat treatment to preclude degradation of forage protein in the rumen so more is available for digestion and absorption in the abomasum and small intestine, respectively; addition of readily available_non-nitrogen (e.g., corn starch) or low-nitrogen (e.g., molasses) energy source. Measure treatment reponses in vivo and in vitro as changes in nitrogen retention, growth digestibilty and energy retention. Analyze differences statistically for significance.

Progress.-79/03 80/02.

Two nitrogen balance trials were conducted in growing wethers. In trial 1, wethers were fed diets of coastal bermudagrass hay (CBG) for CBG treated with 1 percent formaldehyde (F-CBG). In addition, wethers fed each diet were given 200G glucose (G) daily by abomasal infusion (1) or orally (0). Nitrogen retained (NR) was increased (P less than .005) by glucose and formaldehyde; individual means were 3.67, 4.86, 4.80, 5.04, 5.73, and 6.04 G/day for CBG, CBG+G (0), CBG+G (1) F-CBG, F-CBG, F-CBG+G (0), and F-CBG+G (I)_respectively. This increased NR was a direct result of decreased (P less than .005) urinary nitrogen (UN) excretion (e.g., UN was 6.50 and 300 G/day for CBG and F-CBG+G (I)). Essential amino acids in the plasma were also reduced (P less than .005) by glucose, confirming the NR data and suggests an insulin-glucose interaction with regard to nitrogen metabolism on these diets. Digestibilities of crude protein, cellulose, and hemicellulose were lowered by oral glucose but were not affected by infused glucose. In trial 2, NaOH and formaldehyde treatment of CBG with and without the addition of 10 percent glucose were evaluated. NaOH treatment increased (P less than .005) organic matter, cellulose, hemicellulose, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility but decreased (P less than .05) crude protein (CP) digestibility. Formaldehyde treatment increased NR and decreased UÑ but had no effect on CP digestibility. Plasma amino acid concentrations were unaffected by the various treatments. Publications.-79/03 80/02.

77-802 0-81--23

(Moore, C. K., Amos, H. E., Lowery, R. S., Evans, J. J. and Burdick, D. 1979. Influence of Glucose Addition and Formaldehyde Treatment of Forage Diets on Nitrogen Metabolism and Fiber Digestion in Wethers. J. Anim. Sci. 48:354.) (Supplement 1, Abstract).

Participating Federal and State research organizations require the completion of CRIS forms AD-416 (Research Resume) and AD-417 (Research Classification) as an integral part of their work unit approval process. As soon as the work unit is approved, completed CRIS forms are forwarded to the CRIS office for input into the computer data base. Updating, which includes new work units, revisions, corrections and terminations, is conducted on a regular weekly basis throughout the year. Annual progress and publication reports are forwarded to CRIS generally on a fiscal year basis for USDA agencies or a calendar year basis in the case of state organizations for input during the year. Purging of aged work units is conducted annually. Work units are retained on the master file for at least two years following termination.

TIS PARTICIPATION IN AGRIS

Mr. WHITTEN. On page 22 of the ADP Notes you state, "TIS must participate in AGRIS." Why?

Dr. BERTRAND. The development of the International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology-AGRISarose from recommendations made in 1970 to the Director-General of FAO by a panel of experts. These recommendations recognized the need to create a single rapid current awareness service with worldwide coverage with FAO acting as the coordinating agency. AGRINDEX, the current awareness service became operational in January 1975, and now appears monthly in printed form and on magnetic tape. Approximately 50 percent of the citations are for U.S. research literature. These citations are a by-product of the TIS system that produces the AGRICOLA data base. FAO strips out of magnetic tape the U.S. citations, at no cost to TIS, and publishes them primarily for use by the developing countries. This kind of "publication" has caused a modest increase in the use of TIS journals. The Administrator of TIS is a member of the Panel of Experts at FAO. All participation in this program has been cleared with the USDA representative at FAO. If FAO were denied the U.S. citations the program might be discontinued. The term "must" was used to show a long-term commitment to the international exchange of agricultural information; however, there is no legal mandate that requires TIS to participate in AGRIS.

Mr. WHITTEN. Mr. Traxler?

EFFECT OF EXTENSION INCREASES

Mr. TRAXLER. Dr. Greenwood, you certainly have to be the most happy individual in this room today. When you went to sleep with great fears and apprehension, you woke up the next morning $11 million richer. Not many administrators in this town have that feeling.

Dr. GREENWOOD. My colleagues and I are very appreciative.
Mr. TRAXLER. We, on this Committee, are happy for you.

What is that going to mean in the operation of the various extension programs? What do you think will occur with that additional funding?

Dr. GREENWOOD. It will assist the state extension services in maintaining their current level of program delivery. Mr. TRAXLER. To maintain current services?

Dr. GREENWOOD. I am sure on a state-by-state basis there will be a continuing look at priorities and perhaps some redirection of efforts. But the total effort expended will remain stable.

Mr. TRAXLER. What do you see as the future of Extension in the next three to five years?

Dr. GREENWOOD. As we assess future opportunities and direction, we will unquestionably be functioning in a changing environment and amidst changing conditions. I think, too, that as we reflect on our enviable past and identify ingredients fundamental to our accomplishments certain partnerships surface. We have said on many occasions that this unique partnership between federal, state, and local governments is vital to the "investor" sharing of both funding and program determination. I believe that, in the future, it will be incumbent on Extension to preserve the concept of the shared responsibility for both funding and programs; remain cognizant of those broadly based national issues that Congress surfaces as having special significance, especially energy, conservation of natural resources, agricultural productivity, and coping with inflation; and finally assure that we remain in good stewards of the responsibility and expectations of those units of government that make Extension possible and that provide for continuing its heritage that dates back to 1914.

EFNEP PROGRAM

Mr. TRAXLER. You have had some increases proposed in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. I am sure that these increases will be important ones for you. With the proposals to reduce support for feeding programs like Food Stamps, Child Nutrition, Women, Infants and Children, and the Commodity Supplemental Feeding Program, do you expect to see the demand for EFNEP services increasing?

Dr. GREENWOOD. The cost of food in an inflationary time is obviously a major concern for many low-income families. EFNEP program aides are equipped with information to enable families to use limited resources and make wiser decisions about food buying, preparation, purchase and storing procedures. All learning experiences in the EFNEP program are tailored to the needs, interests, economics, ethnic background and educational levels of the individual homemakers who participate in the program.

We anticipate that EFNEP program aides will find an increased demand for the information they can provide families.

Mr. TRAXLER. In the past, you have been doing some food stamp outreach work. There are those who now criticize efforts to advise people of their eligibility for food stamps. Do you see the EFNEP activity with respect to food stamp outreach changing in the coming year?

Dr. GREENWOOD. EFNEP paraprofessionals teach low-income homemakers to provide an adequate diet for their families within limited resources. The 1977 Food Stamp Act encouraged EFNEP to increase efforts to provide nutrition education to food stamp participants. Sixteen pilot EFNEP/Food Stamp projects were funded in fiscal year 1980 to test alternative informational strategies and educational methods. Based on the results of fiscal 1980 projects, fiscal year 1981 appropriations will be used for further testing of

promising cost-effective methods to provide nutrition education to more low-income families.

An objective of the EFNEP program is to increase the ability of low-income families to manage potential food resources including federal assistance programs such as Food Stamps. A change in Food Stamp eligibility criteria will necessitate that EFNEP program aides be able to inform program families of changes in the Food Stamp program. SEA-Extension envisions continued close cooperation at the federal, state and local level with the Food Stamp program to ensure that all food resources are utilized wisely. The primary thrust of the EFNEP program continues to be to help lowincome families, especially those with young children, to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to improve their diets.

Mr. TRAXLER. Have you used Extension resources, and EFNEP in particular, to help small rural communities establish their own feeding programs like WIC or CSFP? Do you believe that this would be a valid use of Extension resources? I know that nutrition education is a valuable factor, but it does little good if people do not have sufficient food to eat.

Dr. GREENWOOD. A major focus of Extension programs and materials has been upon meeting the educational needs at the local level in a nonformal setting. As needs for such education are identified in local communities, expertise from land-grant colleges and other sources is used to provide relevant educational programs. A recent state project requests funds to adapt agricultural cooperative programs and teaching materials to food and other consumer cooperatives. These materials could potentially be utilized by community resource development and family living specialists to provide education to people in small rural communities who wish to establish their own feeding programs.

IMPACT OF HIRING FREEZE

Mr. TRAXLER. Can you tell me if the recent hiring freeze has resulted in difficulties either for Extension in Washington or at the local level? I know we had several people retire recently in Michigan, and many county agents are being called upon to do more work as a result of decreased personnel.

Dr. GREENWOOD. The hiring freeze has had an impact on the staffing of SEA-Extension here in Washington. It has not, however, impacted the states nor their local offices. I might add, however, that reduced funding levels in many of the states, due to their own budgetary constraints, tend to exacerbate the problem that we all face. State Directors and Administrators have advised me that they face budgetary restrictions more severe than at any time in the past. This places increased emphasis on the importance of the three partners in shared funding and program determination maintaining their relative commitment to the partnership. The budget under consideration will assist in maintaining the federal commitment to the partnership.

Mr. TRAXLER. Are there any Extension functions that are either exempted from the freeze, or any functions that you believe should be exempted from the freeze?