Mr. HARDY. I appreciate that, and thank you for being courteous enough to hear us at this hour. STATEMENT OF MR. WILLIAM E. WELSH Mr. WHITTEN. Mr. William E. Welsh, secretary-manager of the National Reclamation Association, who was scheduled to appear this afternoon, will be unable to appear. Therefore, I would like to insert for him the statement he would have presented to the committee to be made a part of the record. (The prepared statement of Mr. William E. Welsh is as follows:) My name is William E. Welsh. I am secretary-manager of the National Reclamation Association. The membership of our association, which includes representatives from a large share of the irrigation districts of the West, are vitally interested in several phases of the program of the Department of Agriculture which comes before your committee for consideration. Soil and water research.-In 1949, a special committee on agricultural research was appointed by the president of our association. This committee made a very complete and exhaustive study and at the annual meeting in 1951 submitted a comprehensive report outlining the objectives of our association in soil and water research. This report was published in 1952 as Senate Document No. 98. Since that time we have had a continuing committee dealing with this particular subject. The thinking of the association at the present time is best expressed by the report of the special committee which was submitted to the association and unanimously approved at the last annual convention held in Phoenix, Ariz., November 6-8, 1957. Following is the report: "ANNUAL REPORT, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE "The agricultural research committee of this association met at Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 23 and again at Phoenix, Ariz., on November 4, 1957. At both meetings, representatives of Federal agencies were available to the committee for questioning concerning their activities. "The association, in expressing its policies concerning agricultural research at conventions during the past several years, has stressed the findings contained in Senate Document No. 98, 82d Congress, published in 1952. This document was originally prepared by the agricultural research committee, then functioning for the association, and was a complete and thorough documentation of the needs for objective agricultural research to the end that our basic natural resources of land and water might more efficiently and abundantly produce foods and fibers. "We are greatly encouraged that the Congress has provided funds to construct two soil and water research laboratories, one to be located near Phoenix to serve the Southwest, and the other in the southerly portion of Texas. To activate such facilities, it is mandatory that funds be appropriated to provide operating personnel and equipment during the next fiscal year. The two facilities will serve the peculiar needs of large areas, but not the somewhat different needs of other portions of the irrigated West. A continuing program, establishing more regional laboratories, is required to fully implement the research recommended by the association, as expressed in Senate Document No. 98. "Your committee is concerned that research agencies of the Government suffer, because compensation rates for technical scientists are far from commensurate with similar rates offered by private industry today. A research program cannot function without capable personnel. Vacancies have occurred in Government research because of such substantial differentials in compensation. We are also concerned over suggestions that such vacancies be abolished, rather than make realistic appraisals of the situation, in order to strengthen the program. "It is the opinion of the committee that research be accelerated to make possible an objective appraisal of the future benefits of proposed projects, including soil quality, water supply and other phases of such operations. Likewise, such research should attempt to forecast production adjustments to meet future market requirements. Such forecasting, if possible, would be a strong factor in determining the future stability of a proposed project. "Members of the committee have taken a deep interest in the control of aquatic weeds and water wasting vegetation. Of particular interest is the current use of aromatic solvents, and recent discovery by industry of effective chemicals used during the current year as a field experiment for the first time. Interest has likewise been given to the use of ceytl alcohol and other materials as an inhibitor of evaporative losses from reservoir surfaces. "The foregoing is the product of the meetings of your committee during the past year. We are encouraged that Congress recognizes the need of research laboratories, and are hopeful that such recognition will continue. "We wish to reaffirm the feelings expressed in our previous annual reports as follows: "(1) Funds are not adequate to support current research, or to accelerate the program to the end that a comprehensive and realistic soil and water research program is in effect. "(2) Research is a basic factor in private industry, and pays large dividends. It should receive the same attention in Government. "(3) Basic research should be implemented by application in the field, or it is of no value to agriculture. Adequate funds would make this possible. "Your committee has continued to convey its thoughts and recommendations to the Bureau of the Budget, and has received assurances of careful consideration in reply. "To implement these recommendations, the committee has submitted a resolution to the resolutions committee for adoption by this convention. "Members of the agricultural research committee are: Hon. George D. Clyde, Governor of Utah; Wayne M. Akin, Arizona; Ira C. Husky, Oklahoma: Philin P. Smith, Colorado; W. V. Lambert, Nebraska; Daniel B. Noble, Oregon; Arthur Svendby, South Dakota. “C. L. HENDERSON, California, Chairman,” Also significant is the resolution which was adopted at the Phoenix convention, which is as follows: "RESOLUTION NO. 15-EXPANDED SOIL AND WATER RESEARCH "Whereas the National Reclamation Association by resolutions heretofore adopted at annual meetings has emphasized the urgent need for an expanded program of soil and water research as set forth in Senate Document No. 98, 82d Congress, 2d session; and "Whereas the Congress has appropriated funds for the buildings and equipment of two soil and water research laboratories in the Southwest; and "Whereas the concepts expressed in Senate Document No. 98 indicate the continued need for the future establishment of additional soil and water research laboratories in other areas of the irrigated West; and "Whereas operation of existing laboratory facilities, and those that may be established in the future will require specific funds to be appropriated by Congress for maintenance and operation: Now, therefore, be it "Resolved, That the National Reclamation Association: "(a) Urge the allocation of adequate funds to the Western Soil and Water Research Branch of the Department of Agriculture to provide emphasis on such problems as: "(1) Moisture conservation and erosion control; "(2) Water supply and its physical control; "(3) Determination of irrigation water requirements; "(4) Methods of water application; "(5) Drainage of irrigated lands; "(6) Methods of increasing water yield by controlling; undesirable vegetation on watersheds and "(7) Methods of applying the findings of basic research to practices in the field through the mediums of: (1) development farms; (2) cooperation with other agencies of the Department of Agriculture and related State agencies on irrigated farms to establish patterns of water requirements, water applications, and drainage practices. "(b) Urge continued support for the existing program relating to control of aquatic weeds and water wasting vegetation: Be it further "Resolved, That the officers, directors, and the agricultural research committee of this association be urged to keep Members of the Congress and Federal administrators informed of the need for strengthening agricultural research relating to the more effective utilization of our limited soil and water resources, and to support legislation sponsoring this objective." We believe that the report of the above committee, together with the resolution, set forth very forcibly, the urgent need for continued soil and water research, and we strongly urge that adequate funds be made available to carry this important work forward on a basis commensurate with the needs of our rapidly increasing population. Moss and aquatic weeds in irrigation canals.-In my appearance before your committee for the past several years I have emphasized the fact that moss and aquatic weeds in irrigation canals have become a very serious problem of the many irrigation canals throughout the West. Two years ago we submitted to this committee for inspection and review a total of 146 letters that had been received from managers of irrigation canals all over the West. Altogether they came from 13 States. They represented millions of acres of irrigated land. They all pointed to the one difficult problem with which they are confronted— they are fighting moss in irrigation canals. This is a field in which there is a wonderful opportunity for research-a field where it is most urgently needed. These people expect to continue to carry on a program of eradicating the moss during the irrigation season. They are not asking for help in that respect. All they want is a research program, the objective of which is to find a more economical means of controlling this moss. This is a field in which private capital cannot be expected to participate. Some research work in a very small way has been carried on between the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Reclamation office in Denver. We strongly urge that an adequate appropriation be made available to continue this program, which is so vitally important to the irrigation farmers in every State in the West. The water users committee of the National Reclamation Association strongly endorsed the program of research in moss control, stating, "There is general need for research on this problem by or on a national scale through the Federal Government with appropriations for that purpose." Noxious weed control.-The control of noxious weeds on federally owned or controlled land is a serious problem in many States of the West as indicated by the following resolution, also adopted at the Phoenix convention: "RESOLUTION NO. 14.-NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL "Whereas noxious weeds on federally controlled land are injurious to farm and range lands; and "Whereas at present no Federal funds are available for the control of noxious weeds on federally controlled lands: Now, therefore, be it "Resolved, That the National Reclamation Association urges the appropriation of funds by Congress for the control of noxious weeds on federally controlled lands; and also urges Federal assistance through existing agencies in control of noxious weeds on reclamation projects where a local project or agency requests Federal participation on the lands within the project or agency." We are not sure which agency should take the initiative in the control of noxious weeds on Federal lands, but without doubt the Department of Agriculture should participate in that program and funds should be made available for the same. Soil Conservation Service-Snow surveys and streamflow forecasting.—There is perhaps no service rendered by any Federal agency that is more important to the people concerned than the snow surveys and streamflow forecasting by the Soil Conservation Service. These surveys make available to the farmers in advance reliable information indicating the amount of water that a farmer can expect for the maturing of crops during the coming growing season. This gives the farmers an opportunity to plan their crops for the season and thus grow the crops that are best suited to the supply of water that is expected to be available. This service is extremely important to the irrigation farmers in every State in the western half of the United States and by all means adequate funds should be made available to continue this service. Seepage losses in canals.-I wish to again emphasize the importance of carrying on research and studies to determine the best means of controlling or reducing to a minimum seepage losses in irrigation canals. In many areas the loss of water-which is so vitally important to the arid West-through seepage from irrigation is almost unbelievable. We believe this is an excellent opportunity for the Department of Agriculture to offer real assistance in an endeavor to find a practical and economical means of reducing seepage losses in irrigation canals and thereby saving millions of acre-feet of water annually. Such research studies should not be delayed because it is well known by everyone who has studied the problem of water throughout the United States that we are rapidly approaching the time when we will be confronted with problems of serious water shortages. On behalf of the membership of our association, which represents a very large percentage of the irrigation interests of the West, I wish to express to the members of your committee our appreciation for the interest that you have shown in carrying forward these programs of research study and investigations that are so vitally important to all of us. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE J. F. BREEDING, OF KANSAS Mr. WHITTEN. The committee is in receipt of a statement by our colleague, Congressman Breeding, which will be made a part of the record: (The statement is as follows:) STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE J. FLOYD BREEDING, REPRESENTATIVE, FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, KANSAS Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, the problems facing agriculture are complex and constantly changing. We must do everything possible to enable our farmers to meet these changes. In my own district, farmer's crops face the ever-present threat of drought, winter killing, attacks by plant diseases and insect pests. Individual farmers are helpless to cope with these threats. They must turn to State or Federal research scientists for help in solving these problems through research. Many problems are regional or national in nature and must be tackled by Federal research scientists. All research takes time. Results of research done today often don't pay off for 5, 10, or 15 years. Food is a vital resource in time of peace or war. We dare not limit our capacity to produce food in future years by limiting, or allowing rising costs to limit, present farm research programs on our major food, feed and forage crops. Last year Kansas farmers received millions of dollars of added income because research leading to the development of sorghum varieties adapted to combine harvesting, and suited to low rainfall areas, was begun many years ago. I urge the members of this committee to consider what rising costs are doing to crop research programs. Without additional funds, even present research programs cannot be maintained. Clearly, relatively small additional appropriations are needed for research on the principal food, feed and forage crops if we are to protect the future of the producers of these crops as well as those in cities and towns who provide them with goods, services and supplies. STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE D. B. FASCELL OF FLORIDA Mr. WHITTEN. Congressman Fascell has forwarded to the committee a letter which he would like to be made a part of the record. (The letter is as follows:) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., March 13, 1958. Hon. JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I should like to take this opportunity to submit for your consideration the enclosed brochure developed at the request of the Florida citrus industry and to request that my statements contained in this letter be made a part of the record by the Subcommittee on Agriculture. I urge the utmost attention of my colleagues to the problems brought about in my State by our recent persistently adverse weather. The granting of research moneys for investigation of factors increasing cold hardiness would be of tremendous benefit in obviating a recurrence of the economic disaster which has hit the citrus industry in Florida as a result of severe damage to fruit and trees. I am sure my colleagues realize the extent to which this situation in Florida is being felt nationwide. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to make this presentation. DANTE B. FASCELL, FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1958. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH WITNESS DONALD G. FLETCHER, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, RUST PREVENTION ASSOCIATION, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Mr. WHITTEN. We have with us this afternoon Mr. Donald Fletcher, who would like to discuss some problems with us. We will be glad to hear you now, Mr. Fletcher. Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, the longtime interest of my organization and the National Grain Improvement Council in the crop research and control programs of the United States Department of Agriculture is known to you all. Our organizations, representing producers, handlers, and processors of these crops, have followed these programs for many years. We feel it is our duty and responsibility to point out the soft spots in research and control programs which vitally affect agriculture and all segments of the Nation's economy, as well as to criticize constructively the operation and administration of these programs. Our presentations to this committee have always been factual, based on personal study and acquaintance with the needs. Requests for the appropriation of Federal funds have been based on minimal requirements, for we continue to recognize the importance of efficiency and economy in Government. Last year, recognizing the surge of public opinion which demanded curtailment of Federal expenditures, we presented several urgent research needs to this committee but did not request any additional funds. There comes a time, however, when "too little and too late" will apply unless present farm research programs are strengthened. This can be done now, efficiently, and at relatively little cost. Existing crop-research programs are actually being reduced by rising costs of supplies and scientific apparatus which have greatly restricted what can be accomplished with funds already allocated. Operating funds have to be used to meet mandatory, periodic pay increases authorized by Congress without the provision of additional |