42 



If I can do anything as Secretary of Agriculture, it is just to 

 bring to the attention of our President something that I am sure he 

 already knows. If you are talking about enterprise zones, computer 

 technology, information, or other capabilities, the rural area ought 

 to be treated just like the urban area. And I think we can do that. 



The Chairman. If members will bear with me, Mr. Secretary, we 

 are pleased to have visiting with us a group of members of the 

 Polish Senate and the Polish House. They are here to learn more 

 about agricultural cooperatives and agricultural policy. We wel- 

 come them to this committee. 



[Applause.] 



The Chairman. Mr. Goodlatte. 



Mr. Goodlatte. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Secretary, I regret that the overlap of our service on this 

 committee was only a few days, but I welcome you in your new ca- 

 pacity and look forward to working with you. 



The one concern or complaint I receive from farmers and others 

 in agribusiness in my district is the overregulation of the farm 

 economj 7 , as they perceive it, by this Federal Government. I wonder 

 if you have any comments in that area. It seems that the impact is 

 greatest on those who can least afford it, the small family farmers 

 that are confronted with enormous amounts of paperwork, equip- 

 ment they need to purchase, their economies of scale being so 

 small that it has a tremendous impact, but it affects the profitabil- 

 ity of all agribusiness. And it affects food prices in this country as 

 well. 



Do you have any thoughts on how you would proceed with that? 



Secretary Espy. I have a few thoughts I could relate to you. 



Part of our mission, an essential part of our mission, would be to 

 improve farm income and what the farmer can keep. Part of that 

 has to concern reduction in overhead expenses. A lot of that we 

 have no control over, but some of that we do. What we have con- 

 trol over would relate to regulation, redtape, communication with 

 ASCS, and all the other farm service organizations. 



If we could minimize the contact — make sure it is of the same 

 quality or perhaps improved quality — so that the farmer can 

 remain on the field doing what he or she is supposed to do and not 

 be in the Farmers Home or the ASCS office waiting in line. 



I would hope, as has been suggested here today, that a lot of this 

 can be done with computer technology and improved training at 

 the service level on the part of USDA. Perhaps I am speaking 

 ahead of myself, but there are certain parts of this that we can 

 change. The farm plans are submitted with regularity. We should 

 computerize these farm plans. Perhaps the USDA can be the first 

 point of contact, sending the farm plans of last year to the farmer 

 and asking if there are any changes. If there are no changes, you 

 don't have to come in as much as you do now. 



I hope that — maybe it isn't that simple. Perhaps it is a lot more 

 complicated. But then perhaps it is not. I think we ought to consid- 

 er these kinds of farm simplified changes. With an emphasis on 

 technology, with an emphasis on education, and with an emphasis 

 on outreach, we can make sure that we can continue down that 

 path. 



