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It is our understanding that the USDA will undergo restructuring in the near future, and 

 our recommendations for such restructuring address those areas of the department's mission that 

 must utilize modem science and technology to solve critical human problems. We believe that 

 reorganization should include the ascendence of research, extension, and higher education in the 

 form of increased emphasis on the role and mission of the Cooperative State Research Service, 

 Extension Service and the Office of Higher Education. Inherent in this suggestion is the 

 expectation that Science and Education will play an increasingly important role in determining 

 agricultural, environmental, social and economic development policy. In addition, we believe that 

 the Science and Education community should not be constrained by traditional limitations, but 

 should be encouraged to work across the department Increased interaction and collaboration 

 between Science and Education and relevant USDA agencies—and indeed with other federal 

 departments-is essential for a more functional and effective Department of Agriculture. 



The research, formal undergraduate, graduate and non-formal extension education 

 responsibilities have many commonalities, both in constituencies and functional relationships. 

 These commonalities are mirrored in the organizational structure of universities which use the 

 same scientists and scholars for their research, teaching and extension efforts. In any 

 reorganization effort, provision must be made for strengthening the close working relationships 

 among these functions. 



Our land-grant universities have been leaders in the scientific and technological 

 breakthroughs that are providing an entirely new way of communicating information through 

 computer technology and electronic systems. These advances arc fundamentally changing the 

 way in which information and education arc being transmitted and will be transmitted in the 

 future. Such technology should be considered integral tools for a redesigned USDA eliciting 

 improved service and simultaneously achieving budgetary savings. 



The USDA Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences has been directed by 

 Congress to improve the planning and coordination of research, extension and higher education, 

 and to rclate them to the federal budgetary process. The Council membership includes federal 

 agency and land-grant university administrators, thus providing a forum for understanding and 

 assessing ongoing changes in agriculture. Continued strong support of this council will enhance 

 coordinating efforts in setting programmatic priorities. 



Recent recommendations by both the Federal Coordination Council for Science 

 Engineering & Technology and the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science & Technology 

 recommend that federal agencies such as the USDA play a stronger role in support of 

 undergraduate and graduate education at our nation's colleges and universities, especially those 

 designated "research-intensive universities." We agree with this recommendation and suggest that 

 any USDA reorganization strengthen the department's role in higher education through the Office 

 of Higher Education in the Cooperative State Research Service. This support is especially critical 



