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produce hogs, beef, com, and soybeans. Today, I come before you 

 on behalf of the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and 

 Teaching, better known as CAJIET, where I currently serve as the 

 past chairman. 



CARET is a national voluntary citizens organization whose 

 grassroots membership is comprised of such individuals as agricul- 

 tural producers, commodity leaders, agribusiness leaders. State and 

 local officials, homemakers, consumers, and members of agricul- 

 tural advisory boards. Each State and territory is represented by 

 at least one delegate. CARET was established in 1982 as a mecha- 

 nism through which citizen support could be expressed for agricul- 

 tural research, extension, and teaching programs of the land-grant 

 university system. 



I, like all other CARET members, have greatly benefited from 

 the unique partnership between USDA and the land-grant univer- 

 sity system. Without the assistance I have received during my 

 more than 30 years of farming, I doubt that I would have the kind 

 of farm operation I have today. Through assistance from Extension 

 and resources at my land-grant university, I computerized my oper- 

 ation early on in the 1980's; I have consistently cut down on the 

 use of insecticides; I am using herbicides in a manner that is sen- 

 sitive to the environment; I am learning to apply fertilizers in a 

 more safe and efficient manner. This assistance allows me to con- 

 tinue to manage my farm business while adjusting my products to 

 meet the needs of consumers and to comply with farm program reg- 

 ulations. 



Our farm operation consists of my wife and I, our son, and his 

 family. If I had to rely on professional consultants to assist us in 

 some of the decisions that we must make on a regular basis, our 

 costs would escalate. We would not be able to avail ourselves of the 

 new scientific knowledge and technology in our farming efforts. 



As the present debate ensues on how USDA should look, what 

 its priorities should be, and to what extent its programs should be 

 funded, we, in CARET, have the following concerns: One, that the 

 base programs of Hatch, Smith-Lever, and so on be strengthened; 

 two, that the Extension Service remain one of education and out- 

 reach; three, that an effective balance be struck between basic, ap- 

 plied, and mission-linked research; four, that agricultural academic 

 programs be strengthened within the Department of Agriculture; 

 and five, that these agricultural research, extension, and teaching 

 programs be allowed to respond to current, as well as future, con- 

 cerns of both the producer and consumer, such as food safety, 

 water quality, genetic-engineered plants, youth at risk, and family 

 problems, to just name a few. 



Now, relating to those five categories, one, the strengthening of 

 base program funding of Hatch, Smith-Lever, the 1890's, Morrill- 

 Nelson, and Mclntire-Stennis, is CARET'S No. 1 priority. These 

 programs provide the infrastructure to the agricultural research 

 and education programs. Base programs guarantee that there will 

 in fact be a continuing agricultural research and education effort 

 at our land-grant universities. Without base funding, without these 

 base programs. States would not have the necessary flexibility in 

 responding to ongoing needs or situations of crisis. I might add 

 that in responding to questions, I would be willing to respond with 



