6.

An increase of $1,404,000 for Nonpoint Source Pollution Programs. Need for Change. Agriculture is alleged to be the most widespread cause of nonpoint source pollution. The most severe problems of water quality were given these priorities in the assessments conducted under the Soil and Water Resource Conservation Act (RCA): toxics, organic wastes, high level of nutrients, dissolved solids, and suspended sediment. Individual states are currently defining the magnitude, extent, location, and nature of water quality problems, under EPA's "208" of P.L. 92-500 planning process. Effective educational programs to correct water problems cannot get underway until these problems have been identified and legitimized in the affected states. Once legitimized, target audiences for educational programs can be identified, and educational programs prepared to get at the source of the problems.

The needed educational programs will be designed to make the general public and specific target audiences aware of the problem; to suggest potential solutions that are both economically and socially feasible; to present alternative solutions wherever possible; to allow landowners a maximum of freedom of choice; to forecast the likely impacts of the various alternatives on the water quality problem; and to assist landowners in assessing personal economic and social impacts.

In spite of a substantial areawide waste treatment management
planning effort by EPA and State water quality agencies, the
Agricultural Advisor to the EPA administrator stated on June 7,
1980 that "75 percent of the Nation's farmers still do not
understand "208" and further stated that there is a big education
job that needs to be carried out by Extension. There are many
situations where rural people are confused and feel threatened
by the number and complexity of new government regulations
coming from a variety of agencies. Most rural people are
familiar with their local County Extension Agents. This increase
would initiate an Extension non-point source pollution effort in
all states so Extension Agents can explain the rather complex
Federal regulatory requirements to farmers and private landowners.
The general public needs to be aware of the importance of water
resource in order to support conservation, and the land manager
must know how to select economical and physically acceptable
solutions. These solutions must be compatible with the existing
management systems, or acceptable alternative systems. Extension
has the expertise to integrate these educational programs into
existing Extension programs. County agents have the rapport to
reach farm and other audiences with educational programs which
interpret water quality regulations for them.

Nonpoint source pollution can be controlled by voluntary changes in
management practices by individuals, many of whom do not even
realize that their present practices result in pollution. Present
EPA and USDA policy calls for voluntary, non-regulatory programs
for improved management of agricultural nonpoint sources.
Education is the key.

Nature of Change. These funds will be used to expand assistance in the area and state nonpoint planning and in providing assistance to private landowners. Farmers will be encouraged to adopt "best managment practices" for controlling or preventing nonpoint source pollutants from croplands, rangelands, and forests and the subsequent degradation of streams, lakes, and underground water resources. These programs will help meet the objectives of Section 208 of P.L. 92-500 the Clean Water Act of 1977, as well as the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Resources Conservation Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act.

(2) An increase of $73,000 in funds authorized under Public Law 90-354 for DC Extension for increased operating costs ($910,000 available in 1981). Need for Change. The D.C. Cooperative Extension Service assists the citizens of the District to solve pressing problems, especially in the areas of youth development, family living, home horticulture, consumer education, community resource development, and food and nutrition. To keep this program at current levels, increased funding is needed by the institution to offset increased operating costs such as salaries, supplies, equipment and other costs.

Nature of Change. Increased funding will enable the institution to operate at basically the same level as in FY 1981.

(3) An increase of $521,000 in funds authorized under Section 1444 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 for the 1890 colleges and Tuskegee institute for increased operating costs ($11,250,000 available in 1981)

(4)

feed for Change. Sec. 1444 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, required the 1890 colleges and Tuskegee Institute to assume substantial additional administrative responsibilities previously carried out for them by the 1862 institutions. These institutions have not been fully compensated for the costs of these additional responsibilities resulting in an undue burden being placed on them. The result was an effective decrease in funds available to carry out Extension programs. Funds available for program activities are being further depleted by rising costs for salaries, services, supplies, equipment and other operating

costs.

Nature of Change. These funds will enable the institutions to shoulder
anticipated increases in operating costs. Funds will be distributed to
the 1890 colleges and Tuskegee Institute in accordance with the formula
prescribed in Section 1444 of P.L. 95-113.

A decrease of $11,500,000 to eliminate funding under the Banknead-Jones.
Act.

Need for Charge. Section 22 of the Bankhead-Jones Act provides funds to the Tand-grant colleges "for support of agriculture, the mechanic arts and related fields." The largest share of these funds has been used to support educational programs in related fields as opposed to direct support of agricultural education.

On the average, Bankhead-Jones funds accounted for only a small
percentage of all instructional expenditures for Land-Grant

Institutions. These funds are being proposed for termination because
of the relative insignificance of these funds when compared to the
total resource needs of the land-grant institutions for teaching
programs and because of lack of focus on food and agricultural sciences.

Nature of Change. The Program will be terminated.

(5) An increase of $609,000 for Federal Administration and Coordination (direct appropriation for fiscal year 1982 ($6,355,000 available in 1981).

(a) An increase of $509,000 for increased operating costs.

(6)

Need for Change: Increased non-salary operating costs of administering the Cooperative Extension programs results from the annual rate of inflation.

Nature of Change. This increase is needed to maintain equivalent purchasing power for program support based on the rate of inflation over the FY 1981 base.

An increase of $100,000 for Fiscal Year 1981 pay increases.

STATUS OF PROGRAM

SEA-Extension is the educational arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal member of a nationwide educational delivery system that reaches into virtually every county in the United States and its territories. The education is off-campus and informal. It is conducted by the State Cooperative Extension Services, a part of the Nation's land-grant universities.

The "educators" include some 17,000 Cooperative Extension professionals and approximately 10,000 aids or paraprofessionals, as well as hundreds of thousands of volunteers. The "students" are farmers, businessmen, families, youth, consumers, and community leaders. Backing up the system is the research competency of the land-grant universities, SEA-Agricultural Research, and program agencies of USDA, such as Food and Nutrition Service, Farmers Home Administration, and Soil Conservation Service.

It is a grassroots system with local people, land-grant universities, and USDA sharing the responsibility of determining educational needs and program design. Currently, programs are organized under the categories of agriculture, natural resources, home economics (including family education and food and nutrition), community and rural development, and 4-H youth development. National concerns now addressed under these categories include integrated pest management, pollution, energy conservation, coping with inflation, nutrition education, soil and water ccnservation and management, management of private forest lands, and the needs of small farmers.

As a full partner in the State-Federal system, SEA-Extension provides program leadership, program planning, and funds. Federal funds account for about 40 percent of the total dollars spent on Extension education. State and county funds account for the remainder. The private sector also provides significant support to the 4-H youth programs of the Extension system.

Some 60 percent of the Federal funds for Extension are administered by SEA-Extension under the formula provisions of the Smith-Lever Act. Other special appropriations include nutrition education for low-income people. Extension programs conducted by 1890 land-grant colleges and Tuskegee Institute, farm safety, integrated pest management, pesticide impact assessment, and urban gardening.

Funds appropriated under the Smith-Lever Act represent a major portion of the total Federal payments to 1862 State Extension Services in support of the national Extension program. These funds are distributed to each State, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands primarily on the basis of farm and rural populations and also on the basis of special problems and needs.

Sixteen border and southern States are using funds appropriated under Section 1444 of P.L. 95-113 for 1890 colleges and Tuskegee Institute to support Extension projects designed to develop and improve informed decisionmaking skills. These Extension Services are continuing to develop improved instructional materials and program delivery methodologies to better service previously unreached clientele. State Extension systems are applying this support to increase services to all clientele, especially those with limited resources.

Funds from the Smith-Lever Act and Section 1444 are used primarily for the employment of State, area, and county Extension personnel, who work with individuals, families, community organizations, business firms, and others. Extension personnel provide advice and assist in the application of improved methods for agriculture production and marketing, forestry and natural resources, human nutrition, family living, community and rural development, and 4-H youth development.

Following are descriptions of current activities with selected examples of accomplishments from these appropriated funds.

Payments to States

Federal funds available for fiscal year 1981 under the appropriation "Payments to States" for cooperative agricultural extension work under the Smith-Lever Act, the D. C. Public Postsecondary Education Reorganization Act, and section 1444 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 total $286,185,000. In addition, $11,500,000 was appropriated under section 22 of the Bankhead-Jones Act for support of instruction in agriculture, the mechanic arts, and related fields at the Land-Grant colleges.

Amounts appropriated are made available to States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands by letter of credit. Funds are disbursed in accordance with budgets and plans of work submitted by the States and approved by SEA-Extension on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture. As reflected in Table III, about 40 percent of the cost of Extension work at present is being financed from Federal sources and about 60 percent from State and local sources.

The funds are used by the States for the employment of Extension workers to carry on cooperative agricultural extension work. Paid Extension workers are assisted by volunteer leaders who cooperate in carrying out Extension programs.

The use of these funds is indicated in greater detail in the following tables:

Table I reflects estimated allotments to States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands under the formula provisions of Section 3(b) and 3(c) of the Smith-Lever Act.

Supplementary Tables 1A, 1B, IC and ID reflect the estimated allotments for pesticide impact assessment and food and human nutrition education (EFNEP) under Section 3(d) (Non-formula) of the Act, payments to the 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee Institute and payments under Section 22 of the Bankhead-Jones Act.

Table II shows the basis on which the allotments will be made and the extent to which they must be matched by the State and local sources.

Table 111 indicates the sources of funds allotted for Cooperative Extension work in the States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands for fiscal year 1981.

Table IV indicates the various classes of field agents employed with
Extension funds.