COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

GEORGE H. MAHON, Texas, Chairman

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS

FOR FISCAL YEAR 1971

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1970.

STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

WITNESSES

DON PAARLBERG, DIRECTOR, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
HARRY C. TRELOGAN, ADMINISTRATOR, STATISTICAL REPORTING
SERVICE

GLENN D. SIMPSON, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AND CHAIRMAN OF
CROP REPORTING BOARD, STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE
JACK L. ASCHWEGE, ASSISTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR, STATIS-
TICAL REPORTING SERVICE

JOHN W. KIRKBRIDE, DIRECTOR, SURVEY AND DATA DIVISION, STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

EARL E. HOUSEMAN, DIRECTOR, STANDARDS AND RESEARCH DIVISION, STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

RAYMOND LONG, DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON DATA PROCESSING CENTER, STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

WILLIAM E. KIBLER, CHIEF, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BRANCH, STANDARDS AND RESEARCH DIVISION, STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

RICHARD E. BALLARD, CHIEF, DIVISION OF BUDGET AND FINANCE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES

FRANCIS A. KUTISH, ACTING ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

JEROME A. MILES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

(1)

Mr. WHITTEN. We turn now to the Statistical Reporting Service, and note an appropriation for 1970 of $16,527,800 and a budget request for fiscal year 1971 of $17,749,800 for an increase of $1,222,000. We would like to insert pages 26 to 40 of the justification material, volume 2, in the record at this point.

(The pages follow:)

STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

Purpose Statement

The Statistical Reporting Service was established by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1446, Supplement 1, of April 3, 1961 under Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 and other authorities. The Service was created to give coordinated leadership to the statistical reporting research and service programs of the Department. It provides a channel for the orderly flow of statistical intelligence about the agricultural economy of this country. The primary responsibilities of this Service are the nationwide crop and livestock estimates, coordination and improvement of the Department's statistical program requirements, and special surveys of market potentials for agricultural products. Service programs are organized in the following major

areas:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Crop and livestock estimates. This includes estimates of production,
supply, price, and other aspects of the agricultural economy; conduct of
enumerative and objective measurement surveys; preparation and issuance
of the official National and State estimates and reports of the Department
relating to acreages, types and production of farm crops, number of live-
stock on farms, livestock products, stocks of agricultural commodities,
value and utilization of farm products, prices received and paid by
farmers, and other subjects as required.

Statistical research and service. This includes review, clearance, coordination, and improvement of statistics in the Department; research on and development of improved statistical techniques used in gathering and evaluating statistical data, data processing activities, with related systems analysis and research, programming and processing of data; research on consumers' preferences on foods, fibers, and their by-products and consumers' evaluation of costs and other factors when buying these products.

Research under Sections 104 (b) 1 and (b) 3 of P.L. 480. Services are performed in connection with the execution and development of studies conducted overseas with foreign currencies by research institutions in foreign countries. Professional personnel in the Statistical Reporting Service review these projects for technical adequacy prior to the contract execution phase. Thereafter, they periodically appraise progress and methods used in carrying out the work, and review the resulting final reports. The Special Foreign Currency Programs of the Agricultural Research Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service sections of these explanatory notes contain discussions of 104(b)1 and (b)3 activities.

Work Performed for Others. Services are performed for other Federal,
State, and private agencies, on a reimbursable or advance payment basis.
These services consist primarily of conducting surveys and performing
related statistical data collection activities. They also include partic-
ipation in the Agency for International Development foreign visitor train-
ing program.

The Statistical Reporting Service maintains a central office in Washington, D. C., but a large part of the crop and livestock estimates program is carried out through 44 State offices.