17 



Mr. Stenholm. Mr. Allard. 



OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. WAYNE ALLARD, A REP- 

 RESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF 

 COLORADO 



Mr. Allard. Mr. Chairman, you're to be commended for holding 

 these hearings to review the Department of Agriculture's research 

 agenda. While the Agriculture Committee authorizes research 

 every 5 years in the farm bill, needs, agendas, and priorities often 

 don't wait xuitil the next farm bill. Indeed, the way events are pro- 

 gressing in agriculture, they often can't wait even from year to 

 year. 



Be that how it may be, Mr. Chairman, the future of agriculture 

 depends upon improving new procedures and new techniques on 

 farms and ranches. Improved research will be critical if we are to 

 m£ike agriculture profitable. It's my hope this subcommittee and, 

 eventually, the full committee will examine the best way to ensure 

 that what resources USDA has available for research are allocated 

 based upon the merit of the institution appljdng and the need for 

 the research. 



Mr. Chairman, we both sit on the Budget Committee, so I won't 

 start into my limited resources speech. Suffice it to say, though, 

 whether we spend $1 or $1 billion, it should be focused on a clearly 

 definable goal that will help our farmers be more productive, profit- 

 able, and environmentally responsible. 



Finally, I look forward to hearing our witnesses tell us what 

 their role is in setting research priorities. The part that has been 

 explained to me is certainly interesting; however, the process does 

 seem somewhat confiising. So I look forward to hearing what the 

 witnesses have to say about this process and to hearing any sug- 

 gestions that they may have for streamlining the procedure. 



Mr. Chairman, 111 yield now so we can get on with the hearing 

 and the testimony. Once again, I appreciate your interest in this 

 area. 



Mr. Stenholm. Mr. Volkmer. 



[No response.] 



Mr. Stenholm. Well now call our first panel: Dr. Savage, Dr. 

 Kloek, and Dr. Offutt. 



Our first witness will be Dr. James D. Savage, associate chair 

 and assistant professor, department of government and foreign af- 

 fairs, University of Virginia. 



Welcome, Dr. Savage. 



STATEMENT OF JAMES D. SAVAGE, ASSOCIATE CHAIR AND AS- 

 SISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND 

 FOREIGN AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA 



Mr. Savage. Thank you, sir. Mr. Chairman, my name is James 

 D. Savage, and I'm associate chair and assistant professor in the 

 department of government and foreign affairs at the University of 

 Virginia. Thank you for inviting me to share with your subcommit- 

 tee my thoughts on the issue of employing direct appropriations, or 

 earmarks, for funding university-conducted agricultural research. 



In 1992 I served as a consultant for the Congressional Research 

 Service, for whom I analyzed the trends in earmeirks for univer- 



