United States Department of Agriculture

“ The Department of Agriculture is constantly consulting the needs of producers in all the States and Territories. It is introducing seeds and plants of great value and promoting fuller diversification of crops. Grains, grasses, fruits, legumes, and vegetables are imported for all parts of the United States. Under this encouragement the sugar-beet factory multiplies in the North and far West, semitropical plants are sent to the South, and congenial climates are sought for the choice productions of the far East. ”

“ To coordinate USDA’s water quality work with that of other federal agencies; To inform the public regularly of USDA’s progress and initiatives in water quality. USDA Water Quality Policy One subgroup of the working group, chaired by Vivan Jennings of the Extension Service, is now analyzing USDA’s current water quality policies with an eye toward updating them to meet current needs. The subgroup’s forthcoming recommendations will ensure that USDA maintains a high profile and a leadership position on this issue. ”

“ Fertilizer and pesticide information will reveal active ingredients used. Future plans are to extend coverage to include other field crops such as peanuts, tobacco, and sorghum. The plan is to report on agricultural chemical use at a State level of statistical reliability beginning in early 1991. ”

“ Whole-Farm Survey The whole-farm chemical-use and economic survey will provide data for economic analysis of fertilizer- and pesticide-use policies. Using whole-farm data, analyses can be conducted on crop substitution, input substitution, and input-crop substitution opportunities under different chemical-use situations.
In 1990, a survey of pesticide use on vegetable will be conducted in five States: Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, and Texas. The survey will cover about 80 percent of U.S. fresh-market vegetable production. ”

“ WQIP incentive payment will be for integrated crop management and other management practices such as waste utilization, contour farming, conservation tillage, nutrient management, and similar cultural practices. ”

“ It is part of the USDA’s effort for helping farmers and rural residents understand water quality problems, where they occur, and their dimensions. The USDA is working with other federal agencies and the states to help farmers operate in a way that minimizes or prevents pollution form agricultural sources. ”

“ By May 27, growers had planted 97 percent of their intended acreage, 1 point ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of normal. Seeding exceeded the normal pace in all States except Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, and Texas. Meanwhile, emergence of the crop also progressed ahead of normal. On June 10, ninety-nine percent of the crop had emerged, 2 points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of the 5-year average. Emergence advanced ahead of normal in all States, except Colorado, under favorably warm, moist conditions. ”

“ Agriculture, confessedly the largest interest of the nation, has not a department nor a bureau, but a clerkship only, assigned to it in the Government. While it is fortunate that this great interest is so independent in its nature as to not have demanded and extorted more from the Government, I respectfully ask Congress to consider whether something more can not be given voluntarily with general advantage. ”

“ An extensive exhibit at Paris of the products of agriculture has made the peoples of many countries more familiar with the varied products of our fields and their comparative excellence.
The collection of statistics regarding our crops is being improved and sources of information are being enlarged, to the end that producers may have the earliest advices regarding crop conditions. There has never been a time when those for whom it was established have shown more appreciation of the services of the Department. ”

“ Economic Research Service; Extension Service; Farmers Home Administration; Forest Service; National Agricultural Library; National Agricultural Statistics Service; Soil Conservation Service. The working group will also work closely with three other federal agencies—the Environmental Protection Agency ”

“ We sell two hundred and fifty million dollars' worth of animals and animal products to foreign countries every year, in addition to supplying our own people more cheaply and abundantly than any other nation is able to provide for its people. Successful manufacturing depends primarily on cheap food, which accounts to a considerable extent for our growth in this direction. The Department of Agriculture, by careful inspection of meats, guards the health of our people and gives clean bills of health to deserving exports ”

“ It is made up of the appropriate under and assistant secretaries and representatives of the following agencies:
Agricultural Research Service; Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service; Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Cooperative State Research Service ”

“ But the land soon proved too valuable for cattle raising, and farming encroached upon and finally broke up the enclosed ranges. Large areas still remain, however, which, with their native grasses, are better suited for cattle raising than for agriculture; but it is in the national forests that cattlemen now find the best grazing lands in the State. These forests are under control of the United States Forest Service, and uniform charges are made for grazing privileges. Wheat was grown early in the rich Palouse country, in the southeastern corner of the State, where the rainfall is moderate. ”

“ Unparalleled progress in agricultural production has made the United States the world's food production model. Our ability to conquer disease and advance the health and productivity of our livestock has brought animal scientists and animal production specialists from around the world to our shores to learn the secret of America's agriculture. ”

“ Records of chemical use and field operations are being combined with soil and other factors to improve prediction models of chemical contamination of ground water. Improved models are the result of research in Oklahoma and Florida that can better match soils and crop management strategies for use by Extension, Soil Conservation Service, and farm managers. In New York research, improved simulation models and geographic information system (GIS) maps are being developed, improved, and tested to predict chances of pesticide movement to ground water. ”

“ The United States Bureau of Agriculture is inclined to be extremely conservative in regard to them, and to advise their manufacturers to prepare them in a guaranteed strength with more explicit directions for use than are to be found in the present circulars. ”

“ About 32 per cent of the wheat acreage of the United States is of this class. The varieties that make up this important class of wheat have hard red kernels and are grown from fall sowing, chiefly in the central part of the United States. There are only a few distinct varieties grown. The original strains were introduced from Russia. They have become important in the United States because of their winter hardiness, drought resistance, and high yields. From hard red winter wheat is manufactured a flour of high bread-making quality. ”

“ The most extensive action for strengthening the agricultural industry ever taken by any government was inaugurated through the farm marketing act of June 15 last. Under its provisions the Federal Farm Board has been established, comprised of men long and widely experienced in agriculture and sponsored by the farm organizations of the country. ”

“ REPORT ON TRANSPORTATION OF FERTILIZER AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS.— Section 2517 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-624; 104 Stat. 4077) is repealed and sections 2518 and 2519 of such Act are redesignated as sections 2517 and 2518, respectively. ”

“ To secure a heavy growth of the legumes before plowing time, the fertilizer should be applied and the legumes planted prior to October 15th. Farmers who desire to participate in the conservation program follow the required practices under the supervision of county committees or associations which are federal instrumentalities for carrying out the plans. ”

“ The area expected for harvest as grain also increased from the previous forecast in many of the Soft Red growing States as producers have now fully evaluated the impact from the April freeze. Sizeable harvested acreage decreases are forecast in Oklahoma and Kansas due mainly to excessive moisture and disease pressure along with the April freeze damage. Winter wheat harvest is progressing well behind average due to cooler spring temperatures that delayed crop development and frequent rains in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas that have delayed harvest. ”

“ Often the department is organized in numerous branches with specialists at the head of each. Thus, there are dairy commissioners, horticultural boards, livestock sanitary boards, foresters, entomologists (specialists in insect life in its relation to agriculture) , and others, to look after every aspect of farming. In a constantly decreasing number of states the powers of the agricultural officers are slight and their work ineffectual; but in others the organization is thorough and the work efficiently done and of the greatest value to the state. ”