44 



ture. Strong markets equate to more and better jobs in the United 

 States. 



It is our hope that the new International Trade Service Agency 

 will provide a stronger organization structure to achieve these 

 ends. American cooperatives stand ready to help make USDA's 

 international programs achieve their development goals. NCBA 

 and its member cooperatives are thinking globally. We must think 

 globally and we welcome the support of USDA in our efforts to take 

 a global approach. It is no longer a question of taking advantage 

 of opportunities. It has become a matter of necessity if we are to 

 continue to sustain our leadership position in the world. 



Thank you. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Notar appears at the conclusion 

 of the hearing.] 



Mrs. Thurman [assuming chair]. Thank you. 



Mr. Terhaar, I first want to say that I wish that you would 

 have — I have lost it, the quote that you have in here from the man- 

 ufacturing matters. I couldn't agree more and I think it is some- 

 thing that has actually been lost in a lot of the debate with agri- 

 culture, as to the innovation and the technology that has been ad- 

 vanced by agriculture. 



Just as a statement, I will tell you that is one of my biggest fears 

 other than the issues of jobs and stuff, is with NAFTA, as it relates 

 to Florida agriculture, because we have certainly many things 

 going on in the State of Florida that I think are very innovative 

 and certainly passing on a lot of technology to some Third World 

 countries as well. And I am afraid if we lose that industry in Flor- 

 ida, we have lost much of this kind of stuff that you mention here. 

 So it is a big issue for me. 



But an5rway, we have some questions that we would kind of like 

 to go through. And the first one is really for all of you. 



As you are well aware, the FAS is in the process of undertaking 

 a major reorganization. I would like to know if you are satisfied 

 with the level of input you have had in this process. And it goes 

 to all of you, so whoever wants to go first. Mr. Johnson. 



Mr. Johnson. I think that we have been appreciative of the 

 input we have been able to get in. We have a meeting set up with 

 Secretary Moos next week, to talk about some of the issues that we 

 have brought forward. We also thank you for being involved in this 

 process. We hope that we are being listened to and are always will- 

 ing to give as much help as we can with input. So yes, we have 

 had the opportunity and are always welcome or would always wel- 

 come the chance to have more opportunity. 



Mrs. Thurman. OK. 



Mr. Krajeck. 



Mr. Krajeck. I don't think that we have been involved in the 

 process at all, that if we have had opportunity for comments, that 

 it has been after the fact, and that we would in fact welcome great- 

 er opportunities to understand the overall direction and to help in 

 determining what would benefit, not just the U.S. feed grain pro- 

 ducers, but all of agriculture, as FAS looks to new directions. 



Mrs. Thurman. So you are not very pleased with it then? 



Mr. Krajeck. No. 



