The Service conducts basic and applied research relating to the production and utilization of agricultural products, research on nutrition and consumer use, and carries out those control and regulatory programs of the Department which involve enforcement of plant and animal quarantines, meat inspection, the control of diseases and insect pests of animals and plants, and related work. 1. Research (a) Farm research.-Improved breeding, feeding, and management practices are developed for farm livestock, poultry, and domestic fur animals. Practical methods are sought for control of diseases and parasites affecting them. Investigations are conducted to improve varieties of food, feed, fiber and other plants, and to develop new crops; to improve crop-production practices, including methods to control plant diseases and nematodes; and to improve chemical, biological, and other methods for control of harmful pests affecting farm production. Research is conducted to improve fertilizers, soil management, irrigation, and conservation practices; to study hydrologic problems of agricultural watersheds; to determine the relation of soils to plants, animals, and human nutrition; and to apply engineering principles to improve efficiency and reduce costs of agricultural production. Continuous review is maintained to emphasize work which will meet the problems of agricultural surpluses. The research is aimed at the profitable production of an adequate supply of food, feed, fiber, and other agricultural products of desired quality at minimum costs. Increased attention has been given to the production of agricultural products having industrial uses. The proportion of farm research funds going into basic research has steadily increased, and is currently estimated at 38% of the total funds for research. This basic research undergirds the other research efforts. (b) Utilization research and development.-Chemical, physical, and biological research is conducted to develop increased industrial uses of farm products, and new and improved foods, feeds, and fabrics; and to develop improved methods for processing agricultural commodities. (c) Nutrition and consumer use research.-Studies are made of nutrition, consumer use and food economics, and clothing and housing. (d) Contingency research fund.-Beginning in 1962, $1 million is available to meet urgent research needs that develop unexpectedly during the year, when such needs cannot be met by redirection of resources from other projects. The 1964 estimates include increases for staffing research laboratories recently authorized by Congress; for a nationwide food consumption survey; and for research on water management and engineering, livestock, and insect problems. These are partially offset by decreases due to elimination of 1963 construction items. 2. Plant and animal disease and pest control.-(a) Plant disease and pest control.-Provision is made (1) through port-of-entry inspection to exclude from this country destructive insects, plant diseases, and nematodes that cause great damage to agricultural crops in other parts of the world; (2) to cooperate with States in eradicating or preventing spread of crop pests that become established in this country; and (3) to assist States in suppressing incipient and emergency outbreaks of crop pests when and where they occur. Increases proposed in 1964 for strengthening plant quarantine protection necessary at ports-of-entry because of increased travel and shipping and to meet the cost of space rentals at international airports are more than offset by a reduction in the plant pest control activities relating to the eradication of the fire ant and gypsy moth pests. The volume of workload is indicated in the following table (in thousands): (b) Animal disease and pest control.-Programs are conducted to exclude communicable diseases of foreign origin from this country; to prevent the spread of diseases through interstate shipments of livestock or distribution of impure or impotent veterinary biologics; to control and eradicate livestock diseases; and to maintain, through a marketing agreement with manufacturers and handlers, adequate supplies of hog cholera virus and serum for protection of swine. The estimates for 1964 propose increases for more adequate animal inspection and quarantine at ports to reduce the hazard of introduction of foreign animal diseases; expansion of the hog cholera eradication program and activities relating to veterinary biologics under the Virus Serum Toxin Act. Funds are requested for continuation of the screwworm eradication program in the Southwest. program in the Southwest. The increases are partially Total, Agricultural Research Service.... 32 Lands and structures.. (c) Pesticides regulation. This activity is concerned with administration of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 25 Other services. and Rodenticide Act, and related provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The 1964 estimates propose an increase of $148 thousand to handle increased registration and enforcement activities. 3. Meat inspection.-Federal meat inspection is required for all meat in interstate commerce and is conducted to assure a clean and wholesome meat supply for human consumption, free from adulteration, and truthfully labeled. The work includes inspection of animals, carcasses and meat, and meat-food products at various stages of handling and processing. Measures are enforced to insure informative labeling, and meats imported or exported are inspected. The estimates for 1964 include a proposed increase for additional inspection staff to service the expanding demand for Federal meat inspection. The volume of inspections and examinations is indicated by examples given in the following table: 1962 actual 1,511 623 107,504,884 104,329,407 107,108,967 107,499,826 104,324,593 107,104,052 285,161 283,969 18,461 18,806 255,632 18,698 Total, General Services Administration.. Personnel Summary Total number of permanent positions. Average salary of ungraded positions. SALARIES AND EXPENSES (SPECIAL FOREIGN CURRENCY PROGRAM) For purchase of foreign currencies which accrue under title I of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1704), for market development research authorized by section 104(a), and for agricultural and forestry research and other functions related thereto authorized by section 104(k) of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1704(a) (k)), to remain available until expended, [$5,265,000] $2,500,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available, in addition to other appropriations for these purposes, for the purchase of the foregoing currencies: Provided further, That funds appropriated herein shall be used to purchase such foreign currencies as the Department determines are needed and can be used most effectively to carry out the purposes of this paragraph, and such foreign currencies shall, pursuant to the provisions of section 104(a), be set aside for sale to the Department before foreign currencies which accrue under said title I are made available for other United States uses: Provided further, That not to exceed $25,000 of this appropriation shall be available for purchase of foreign currencies for expenses of employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (5 U.S.C. 574), as amended by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U.S.C. 55a). (Department of Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1963.) New obligational authority (appropriation) 5,265 5,265 2,500 1 Includes capital outlay as follows: 1962. $14 thousand; 1963, $14 thousand; 1964, $10 thousand. 2 Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: Unpaid undelivered orders, 1961, $7,177 thousand; 1962, $12,268 thousand; 1963, $22,769 thousand; 1964, $29,970 thousand. Foreign currencies, generated by the sale of surplus agricultural commodities under title I of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, are used by the Department for market development research under section 104(a) and for agricultural and forestry research under section 104 (k) of the Act. Work is carried on through agreements, in both basic and applied fields, by research institutions and organizations in foreign countries. This research serves to develop new foreign markets and to expand existing markets for agricultural commodities, including cotton, dairy products, fats and oils, grain, feed, livestock and meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables, and tobacco. It also provides for supplementary research on farm, forest, marketing, utilization, agricultural economics, and human nutrition problems. Total estimated cost in U.S. dollars (charged to regular appropriations) for the initiation and supervision of projects in 1964 is $317 thousand. In 1964, it is proposed that foreign currencies also be used for translations of foreign language scientific publications, as authorized by section 104 (k) of the act. Object Classification (in thousands of dollars) Financing: ANIMAL DISEASE LABORATORY FACILITIES Program and Financing (in thousands of dollars) ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ENTOMOLOGY RESEARCH LABORATORY (Permanent, indefinite, special fund) 93 Program and Financing (in thousands of dollars) Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: Unpaid undelivered orders. 1961, $121 thousand; 1962, $33 thousand; 1963, $0. In previous years, $16.5 million had been provided for establishment of animal disease research and control laboratory facilities. Construction of the facilities at Ames, Iowa, was started in August 1958. The laboratory buildings were completed in fiscal year 1961. Construction of needed storage and other facilities in fiscal year 1963 will complete the installation under this appropriation. Object Classification (in thousands of dollars) Unobligated balance carried forward... New obligational authority. The 1961 appropriation for Salaries and expenses, research, Agricultural Research Service, authorized the sale of the Department's Entomology Research Laboratory at Orlando, Fla., and application of the proceeds of sale to the construction of a new laboratory. An additional $500 thousand was provided by the Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1961, under the appropriation, Construction of facilities, for the remainder of the total estimated cost of $900 thousand for the new facilities. The Orlando property was sold in 1961 for $400 thousand, which will be applied toward the construction of the new laboratory. The laboratory is under construction and is expected to be available for occupancy by June 1963. RESEARCH FACILITIES Program and Financing (in thousands of dollars) 1962 actual 1963 1964 estimate estimate 1 Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: Unpaid undelivered orders, 1961, $4 thousand (1962 adjustments, $1 thousand); 1962, $0; 1963, $0. |