216 



statement of the 



Association of Administrators of Home Economics and 



Board on Home Economics of the 



Nationai Association of State Unh^erslties and 



Land Grant Coileges on 



Reorganization of the United States Department of Agriculture 



The Board on Home Economics (BOHE) is one of five which constitutes the 

 Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources of the National Association of 

 State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). The Board is composed of 

 representatives of the Association of Administrators of Home Economics who are deans of 

 colleges in the land grant university system, and/or directors of research and extension 

 education progrsuns. This board brings to the Commission on Food, Environment, and 

 Renewable Resources expertise to address the needs of families —elderly, youth, and 

 children; nutrition and its relation to human health; food quality and food safety; product 

 development for multicultural consumer markets; resource management for limited resource 

 families among others. The Board on Home Economics, as a constituent member of the 

 Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources, interacts with the Boards on 

 Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Forestry and Natural Resources, and Oceans and 

 Atmosphere for strategic planning, and for development of budget and policy 

 recommendations for the science and education functions of USDA. 



It is the strong symbiotic relationship between the land grant university system and 

 USDA which heightens our interest in reorganization of the latter. The Board on Home 

 Economics supports the principles set forth in President C. Peter Magrath's letter of February 

 23 to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy. We take this opportunity to emphasize some 

 specific factors which the BOHE would like to have considered in reorganization plans and 

 which we believe will enhance the ability of the USDA to capitalize upon the strengths within 

 our l^nd Grant colleges. 



Science and education has related functions of discovery and dissemination which 

 operate very effectively through the land grant structure which links higher education for the 

 preparation of scientists and teachers, research, and extension education which disseminates 

 science-based information to the public. Science and education of the USDA is likely to 

 benefit from some reorganization, but the relationship of the higher education, research, and 

 extension education functions under the same Assistant Secretary is paramount to their 

 effectiveness. The contemporary extension education component is increasing in importance 

 as the knowledge base increases exponentially. 



The Clinton administration has placed emphasis on restoring vitality of the U.S. 

 economy, part of which is putting displaced workers into productive jobs. U.S. agriculture 

 has experienced enormous transitions, including the major transition from the family farm to 

 corporate production. The USDA should be expected to play a role in helping the country 

 and the economy adjust to transitions that it has played a role in helping to create. Science 

 and education is providing educational support for communities, families, and small 

 businesses to productively weather transitions. The system is in place to effect such support; 



