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agricultural companies which impact agriculture. We must develop 

 technology transfer centers at each land-grant university which utilizes 

 fiber-optic networks, computer networks, and satellite systems which will 

 allow communication between farmers, agribusiness leaders, and 

 scientists from throughout the world. This network must connect libraries 

 around the world as an immediate research base for agricultural topics. 

 The USDA Agricultural Library should be positioned to accept a major 

 leadership role in the international library network. Faculty members 

 associated with the technology transfer centers would work as one-on-one 

 consultants with farmers and other agri-industries in the transfer of 

 technology. The scientists and staff associated with the technology centers 

 would be located at the land-grant university and would also have 

 research or academic instruction responsibilities. 



Approximately 2/3 of the farmers in the United States are not in a position 

 to utilize the high technology methods for production agriculture. 

 Therefore, these individuals need help on fundamental management 

 principles, principles on balance sheets, leadership training, and 

 fundamental short courses on methods to developed profitable systems in 

 production agriculture. The foundation staff for this program should 

 include cooperative efforts between the private sector and the public 

 sector. Formal programs should be established between the private and 

 public sector for providing technology and improved management 

 systems to the individuals in production agriculture that are not in the 

 position to utilize the high technology concepts and principles. 



Research 



Agriculture research at a large number of the land-grant universities must 

 establish a much more basic and fundamental foundation as the system 

 prepares for the 21st Century. One of the major short falls in the 

 agricultural research program in the United States is the limited number 

 of dollars available for fundamental research as it applies to production 

 agriculture. In order to establish a more fundamental research program 

 for agriculture, the land-grant universities should establish administrative 

 structures which will stimulate faculty members in chemistry, physics, 

 mathematics, |X)litical sciences, psychology, sociology, and other non- 

 traditional agricultural fields to cooperate with faculty in the College of 

 Agriculture and establish independent projects that have direct impact on 

 agriculture. This is particularly important in the biological sciences, 

 chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and math. In addition, large 

 components of the engineering faculty can make significant contributions 

 to basic research in agriculture. The USDA should restructure the land- 

 grant university support system to encourage more fundamental and 

 basic research for agriculture through interdisciplinary programs within 

 the university and research centers from industry and the USDA. The best 



