121 



Statement by the NASULGC Boaid on Agricultuie on 

 Current Agricultural Research and Education Priorities 



Mr. Chairman, my name is David G. Topel and I am pleased to provide this testimony 

 on behalf of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges 

 (NASULGC) Board on Agriculture. This Board is composed of representatives from 

 Agricultural Experiment Stations, Cooperative Extension, Agricultural International 

 Programs, Academic Programs, Council of Administrative Heads of Agriculture, 1890 

 Universities Research and Extension, Forestry, Home Economics, and Veterinary 

 Medicine Boards from the Commission on Food, Environment and Renewable 

 Resources. 



The NASULGC Board on Agriculture is pleased to participate in the hearings on USDA 

 priorities for research and education and offers its full coop>eration and expertise to the 

 process. The Board views the testimony process as an opportunity to strengthen and 

 improve the Federal Government/University model of interaction and collaboration 

 which has proven so successful over the past 130 years. It is a unique model and is 

 envied worldwide, but it can and should be modernized to meet changing world 

 conditions. The Secretary's call for a science based USDA empheisizes again the 

 contributions of the Federal /University partnership in Science and Education which has 

 promoted competitiveness, enhanced rural development and improved the safety and 

 wholesomeness of the U.S. food supply. Therefore, the USDA should strengthen 

 priorities for reseeirch and education. 



As the USDA relates to future programs for Science and Education, priorities should be 

 established to strengthen this unique state/ federal partnership which: 



• Links the USDA through 73 land-grant universities (including the 1890s and 

 Tuskegee) to regionjil and state research bases of the Experiment Station System in 

 50 U.S. states and 6 territories. This system, which also includes the nation's 

 forestry schools, colleges of veterinary medicine and home econonucs programs 

 offers expertise and diversity second to none. 



• Links the USDA through the Cooperative Extension System's educational outreach 

 programs to producers and consumers in over 30(X) counties throughout the U.S. 

 and its territories. Past accomplishments of cooperative extension in rural 

 development, human nutrition, and youth at risk make these educational 

 programs particularly important in efforts to focus the USDA delivery system on 

 the broad clientele of the Department. 



• Connects within USDA and the land-grant universities those agencies of scientific 

 inquiry and application whose collaborative efforts produce science based 

 educational programs directed to real world problems. 



• Results in the three-fold leveraging of the federal investment through state and 

 local funding for research, extension and education. 



