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ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUBSTIONS SUBMITTED TO DR. JAMES KLOEK, PANELIST 

 FOR MARCH 25, 1993 HEARING - REPRESENTATIVE STBNHOLM PRESIDING 



1. How does the erosion of base progreunnlng at research facilities 

 Influence "critical mass" to accomplish good scientific results? 

 That is, if there are too many support staff and not enough 

 scientists, what will be the result? 



Answer ; At one time, a small laboratory operation was capable of 

 making excellent progress; today, an interdisciplinary group or 

 "critical mass", often with highly sophisticated euid costly 

 equipment, is required to solve pressing agriculture problems. 

 This work is undermined, however, when program funds are siphoned 

 off to support brick and mortar instead of the scientists and 

 equipment that are needed. There is also a "Catch 22" effect 

 because buildings require a certain number of administrative and 

 maintenance employees which is often offset by a reduction in the 

 number of scientists. 



2. The CSRS has estimated that it will cost $430 M to complete 

 facilities already in the hopper. I imagine the situation at the 

 ARS is similar. What would you recommend be done with those 

 projects? 



Answer; According to USDA estimates done in FY 1990, a total of 

 $348,434,000 was needed for ARS's 1990 repair needs. That is a 

 staggering amount compared to ARS's overall 1990 research budget of 

 $456,434,000. In other words, for every dollar spent on research, 

 ARS would have to spend and additional $.76 on repair. Putting 

 this is an agricultural context, we are eating our seed corn. 



This trend can not continue but obviously we can't just walk away 

 from all the buildings under construction. As stated in my 

 testimony, it is the UAB's position that an overall strategic plan 

 must be developed for agricultural research and that Congress use 

 this plan to evaluate current <md proposed construction. Those 

 projects that don't address the objectives in the strategic plan 

 must be abandoned. There simply isn't enough money to do them all. 



3. You mention in your testimony that the ARS system has 1,074 

 square feet of research space per employee. How does this compare 

 to what industry has? 



Answer ; In industry there is about 500 square feet per employee, 

 which includes scientists and support staff. The typical 

 industrial lab is 600 square feet with an additional 120 square 

 feet for office space for 2 to 4 scientists and technicians. 



