15 



as to why agricultural is not highlighted more specifically in the re- 

 port is that the TPCC has been focusing on coordination of pro- 

 grams to a major extent. I think that the difference between the 

 agricultural side and the industrial side is major there in the sense 

 that within Agriculture, we have coordination of our programs, 

 credit programs, and the policy programs, and promotion programs 

 and the information programs, are coordinated within the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. But that is not true on the industrial side, 

 there are many other agencies involved in it. 



Mr. CONDIT. Thank you, Mr. Mackie. 



Regarding reports that you mentioned from the fields, what con- 

 tact does FAS have with the industry to determine their particular 

 needs? 



Mr. GOLDTHWAIT. We have contacts of a couple of kinds, rou- 

 tinely. First of all, we have an ongoing high level of interaction and 

 contact with exporters and with our market development coopera- 

 tors, which provides usefiil feedback on our reporting. But also 

 with respect to the pubhcations that we put out, we routinely sur- 

 veyed recipients of those publications to try to better determine 

 whether or not we are in fact meeting their needs. And the results 

 that we have received to those surveys are, I would say, by and 

 large, very satisfactory. 



Mr. CONDIT. I have several other questions, but we have several 

 members here who want to ask questions and we want to move 

 along, so I want to ask Mr. Allard if he has any questions or com- 

 ments he would like to make? 



Mr. Allard. Thank you very much for recognizing me. I would 

 like to thank the panel members for taking the time this morning 

 to testify before our subcommittee. Unfortunately, I am going to 

 have to be in and out during testimony, and there may be some 

 questions that I would Uke to have answered one way or the other. 

 I may submit those, and I hope this panel and the next panel 

 would be willing to respond to those in writing back to my office, 

 if you would, please. 



To start off with, I have an issue that has been brought to me 

 by Congressman Combest. And apparently, there is some program 

 with the GSM program and the export of cotton from Texas, and 

 when that entry certificate is delivered and reimbursement and 

 whatnot, and, Mr. Groldthwait, I wonder if you would be willing to 

 take some time and sit down with Congressman Combest and look 

 into detail just exactly what their problem is with the export of cot- 

 ton to Mexico? I would appreciate it very much. 



Mr. GOLDTHWAIT. We will certainly be glad to do that. 



Mr. Allard. Thank you very much. 



The other question that I have to bring up, and Chris or Mr. 

 Goldthwait, I will direct that toward you. Apparently, we have FAS 

 personnel that are assigned to some 80 overseas posts, covering 

 some 100 countries. What is the geographic disposition of your per- 

 sonnel? 



How many are assigned to Europe and the Pacific Rim and Latin 

 America? And does the distribution of those personnel reflect the 

 potential for U.S. agricultural exports? 



