And I would Now, that is overall in our total research endeavor. think that while the Northwest needs badly increased work in this field to which reference is made, that such increases as are undertaken could be more productive if they were directed toward strengthening existing facilities and in cooperation with the three States involved. Senator RUSSELL. After consultation with your technical people will you give us a memorandum expressing your opinion on this matter, and as to alternate plans that the Department may have to suggest as to strengthening this work in this area? Mr. PETERSON. I would be glad to do so. Senator RUSSELL. I wish you would also point out the activities of the States that are affected in this field, if you have any figures. Mr. PETERSON. I think we have some information that would indicate that, Senator. (The information requested appears on pp. 110-112.) LOCATION OF FARM RESEARCH ACTIVITIES Dr. CLARKSON. Mr. Chairman, if I may supplement what Mr. Peterson has said, this map shows the locations of our farm research activities. We will be glad to leave it with the committee. By code it identifies the lines of work including soil and water conservation, crops, and livestock. You can see from the dispersal of facilities that the need for adequate support at the locations where we are now working, as Mr. Peterson said, is a matter of high priority. Senator STENNIS. Before we leave that subject, I want to ask a few questions on it. Senator RUSSELL. Yes. But I want to finish this matter about the Northwest by offering some letters. PEAR DECLINE RESEARCH I have a letter from Senators Magnuson and Jackson relative to the pear decline research in the Yakima Valley in the State of Washington. Dr. Clarkson, did you testify on that?" Dr. CLARKSON. No, I didn't, Mr. Chairman. Senator RUSSELL. Dr. Byerly testified, I think. We would like to have a statement on that, inasmuch as I received this letter, for the guidance of the committee when we go to mark up the bill. Dr. BYERLY. Shall I supply that for the record, Mr. Chairman? Senator RUSSELL. It will be all right if you supply it for the record, yes. I think most of us were present when you testified on this supplemental bill. Dr. BYFPLY. Very well. (The information referred to follows:) PEAR DECLINE In recent years pear decline has caused large losses to pear producers in the Pacific Northwest. The cause of the disease has not been definitely established. It appears to be a problem of rootstock-scion relationship. The pear industry has provided $10,000 annually for research on this problem and the Washington State Agricultural Experiment Station is providing approximately the same amount. The United States Department of Agriculture is cooperating with the State in this work to a limited extent utilizing the parttame services of three employees. The Senate has provided $12,500 in the pending second supplemental appropriation bill for additional research in fiscal year 1958. If this increase is provided it would require $25,000 to continue an augmented program in fiscal year 1959. UNITED STATES SENATE, March 13, 1958. Hon. CARL HAYDEN, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, Hon. RICHARD B. RUSSELL, Chairman, Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations, DEAR COLLEAGUES: We should like to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation and the appreciation of the people of our State for the action your committee took in providing $12,500 in the second supplemental budget for an immediate start on a full-scale pear decline research program in the Yakima Valley in the State of Washington. You will recall that in our presentation to the committee in support of the supplemental appropriation to start the pear decline research program we indicated that additional appropriations to the extent of $25,000 per year would be required to carry the program to a successful conclusion. We therefore at this time request that the sum of $25,000 be added to the fiscal year 1959 budget for the Agriculture Research Service for this specific purpose. Thank you for your continued interest in the problems of our region. Sincerely yours, WARREN G. MAGNUSON, United States Senator. HENRY M. JACKSON, United States Senator. Senator RUSSELL. If there is no objection, I think I will ask the clerk of the committee to see if we can print this map. I think it would be helpful to us to have copies of it, and the map will appear in the record at this point. (The map referred to faces this page.) SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION RESEARCH LABORATORY LETTER FROM SENATORS MAGNUSON AND JACKSON Hon. RICHARD B. RUSSELL, UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, February 13, 1958. Chairman, Agriculture Subcommittee on Appropriations, MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We are enclosing a copy of an excellent brochure prepared by the soil conservation districts associations of the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada, setting forth the needs for a soil and water conservation research laboratory in the Pacific Northwest. It is our hope that the Agriculture Subcommittee on Appropriations will give this proposal its most earnest and favorable consideration. We believe the brochure more than adequately sets forth the needs for the proposed laboratory, but we should like to call particular attention to the following statement from the foreword in the attached brochure: "The soil conservation district associations wish it understood at the outset of this statement that they are recommending this soil and water laboratory and its attending program only after careful consideration of all existing soil and water research programs now in progress in the Northwest and the possibility of increasing existing facilities. Our findings indicate there is no single or combination of locations of all existing soil and water facilities capable of conducting a research program commensurate with the needs of the Northwest." The need for this laboratory has been called to the attention of the Department of Agriculture, which recognizes this need, but indicates lack of funds in current resources and in the 1959 budget for establishment of the laboratory. It is our sincere hope that when your committee has considered the brochure and the enclosed copy of the Department of Agriculture's letter on the subject, that you will be convinced of the necessity and justification for congressional initiative in this matter. DEAR SENATOR RUSSELL: The Pacific area of the National Association of Soil Conservation Districts, comprising the States of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada, have prepared a report on the need for a soil and water conservation research laboratory for the Pacific Northwest. This report previously has been submitted to you by Senators Magnuson and Jackson and possibly by other Senators. The undersigned, representing Columbia Basin States, feel that the case made for a research laboratory to concentrate on soil and water problems in our area is very strong. While funds for the establishment of such a laboratory were not included in the Agriculture Department's budget requests for 1959, we have reason to believe that the critical need for it is widely appreciated among the Department's qualified technical personnel. We further feel that this matter could properly be taken up in the meeting of your subcommittee scheduled for next week, so that the project, if approved, can participate in the proposed program for accelerating public works projects of demonstrated need. We know that you and the chairman of the committee are both aware of the fine work that similar laboratories in other regions do, and of the excellent working relationships which they have established with agricultural experiment stations and the land-grant colleges. A preliminary meeting of persons interested in the establishment of such relationships in the Pacific Northwest will take place later this month in Pullman, Wash. Unfortunately, the existing laboratores do not and cannot deal with the specialized problems of the Columbia Basin where over a million acres of new irrigated land is scheduled to be brought under cultivation, and where there is increasing evidence of expensive failure to make effective use of our available water supply. Erosion control and the related problem of moisture conservation are among the most serious problems, the latter being especially important in connection with the wise use of our range and pasture lands. For construction of laboratories, greenhouses, and soil processing facilities for the first year only, it is estimated that $1 million will be required, and an additional $1 million will later be needed on a recurring basis to support personnel and operating expenses for a laboratory and field program in the Northwest, divided equally between soil and water research programs for dry farmland, rangelands, and irrigated lands. It is our joint request that there be added to the budget for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year 1959, $1 million for the construction of a Pacific Northwest Soil and Water Conservation Research Laboratory to be located in the Columbia Basin, as heretofore authorized. Sincerely, JAMES E. MURRAY. WARREN G. MAGNUSON. FRANK CHURCH. MIKE MANSFIELD. HENRY M. JACKSON. RICHARD L. NEUBERGER. |