42 



world economy, competitive advantages for the United States will 

 depend on maintenance and enhancement of our ability to generate 

 and use science, technology, and education. Because of the long his- 

 tory of USDA in these areas, future priorities should build on these 

 advantages. 



I'd like to share witih you a few examples. American agriculture 

 must continue to lead the world in adoption of science and tech- 

 nology in order for the American public to enjoy continued benefits, 

 and the American economy to prosper. You cannot have a strong 

 Nation without a stable food supply. You understand that as mem- 

 bers of this conmiittee, but nuUions of Americans take this for 

 granted. 



A better trained and educated workforce must occupy a high pri- 

 ority in rebuilding rural America. We must introduce improved 

 methods for rapid technology transfer to rural America, methods 

 such as improved fiber optics networks and improved satellite net- 

 works where we can transfer technology fi-om the universities and 

 technology centers to the homes of farmers, to the offices of agri- 

 businesses aroiuid the country and, for that matter, around the 

 world. 



There must be an increased role of the USDA in undergraduate, 

 graduate, nonformal, and extension education to address the spe- 

 ciaUzed needs of agriculture, natural resources, and family and 

 consumer affairs. We need improved distance learning programs for 

 agriculture, programs that wiU allow farmers and other agri- 

 business leaders to take courses for credit so they can work on ad- 

 vanced degrees while continuing their full-time employment. 



We need increased interaction and collaboration between science 

 and education communities and USDA agencies, such as Human 

 Nutrition Information Service, Soil Conservation Service, Farmers 

 Home Administration, Forest Service, National Ag Library, Food 

 Safety and Inspection Serv7.ce. Linkages between these units and 

 the land-grant university system is essential. The National Ag Li- 

 brary could take on this project and connect these units more effec- 

 tively through computer networks and related areas. 



Continued and enhanced collaboration with other Federal agen- 

 cies and Departments outside of USDA, such as EPA, Energy, Inte- 

 rior, HHS, Commerce, Labor, NIH, and NSF, is essential, and we 

 need to capitalize on these cooperative ventures between scientific 

 communities. 



In Ught of the above, and with particular attention to the oppor- 

 tunities and mandates emerging throughout Government, the U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture, as it relates to the science and edu- 

 cation agencies and the land-grant university system, should take 

 note of the following principles when establishing new priorities. 



Now more than ever, there is a need to retain flexibility for 

 change and focus on enhancing the ability of the Department to an- 

 ticipate and respond to critical issues in a timely manner. In order 

 to anticipate critical issues in a timely manner, it is important to 

 have input fi-om grassroots organizations, such as the Council for 

 Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching. Bob Guernsey is 

 past chair of this council and will report his thoughts to you during 

 his testimony. 



