(The material referred to follows:) Hon. CARL HAYDEN, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate. MARCH 18, 1955. DEAR SENATOR HAYDEN: The second supplemental appropriation bill, 1955, as passed by the House, includes several items relating to this Department: Salaries and expenses, Agricultural Research Service, plant and animal disease and pest control. The budget estimate as reflected in House Document No. 88, requested $700,000 for emergency outbreaks of insects and plant diseases to provide urgently needed Federal cooperation to suppress expected severe and widespread outbreaks of grasshoppers in 15 States during the remainder of fiscal year 1955, and to meet other possible emergencies. The House bill reduced the amount to $500,000. In recommending this reduction the House Committee on Appropriations, in its report (H. Rept. 207, p. 3), stated: "The committee recommends $500,000 for this purpose, instead of the full amount requested. The surveys made in December are only a preliminary analysis of the emergency, and extreme weather conditions unfavorable to grasshoppers could reduce or eliminate the threatened outbreak. Further, since the Federal Government is paying one-third of the cost of control on State and private lands, the committee feels that local groups should take a joint interest in control work on public land." This reduction, if allowed to stand, would have a serious effect on the availability of adequate forage for range cattle should the expected outbreaks materialize, since effective grasshopper control operations in large rangeland area's would not be possible. Cooperative surveys completed in December 1954 showed severe buildups of grasshopper infestations on more than 6 million acres of rangelands. The supplemental estimate of $700,000 for control costs already takes into consideration the possibility of weather conditions developing in some areas which would be unfavorable to grasshoppers, and is based on control operations being required on only 2,600,000 of the 6 million acres. The weather in the infested areas since the surveys were made has been favorable for the hatching of grasshoppers. Of the 2 million acres of infested rangelands under State and private ownership, the Federal Government has an obligation under existing cooperative agreements to meet its one-third share (approximately $400,000) of the control costs. On the 600,000 acres of infested rangelands under the jurisdiction of the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, for which control costs are estimated at $360,000, it is very unlikely that local groups can be induced in the limited time available this year to share much more than $30,000, the amount already anticipated in the budget estimate. Present conditions continue to indicate the urgent need for the full amount of the estimate. Accordingly, the Department strongly urges restoration of the House reduction of $200,000. Agricultural conservation program.-The Third Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1954, included $15 million for a program of sharing with farmers the cost of carrying out emergency wind-erosion-control measures in 1954. In view of the continuation of serious drought conditions in the Dust Bowl area, House Document No. 102, dated March 7, 1955, included a proposal that the unobligated balances in this appropriation, estimated to be $7,147,000, be continued available in 1955 for assistance to farmers in carrying out measures which would help to control excessive soil blowing. The House bill includes this provision and the Department urgently recommends its approval by the Senate in order that assistance can be provided to prevent further serious damage to farmlands in the drought area by wind erosion. Salaries and expenses, Forest Service, control of forest pests.-The budget estimate, as reflected in House Document No. 88, proposed a supplemental appropriation of $2,570,000 to control spruce budworms in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico where surveys completed last fall revealed a tremendous upsurge in budworm infestations. Unless control measures are applied in the spring or early summer of 1955, there is every indication that even greater insect populations will be encountered next season. Any delay in applying control measures will greatly increase the damage to and loss of valuable timber resources and also increase the costs of ultimate control. The House bill contains the full amount of the estimate of $2,570,000. It is recommended that this estimate also be approved by the Senate. The general provisions of the House bill also contain language permitting the use of certain appropriations of the Agricultural Research Service and the Forest Service for the payment of allowances to those employees who are required to wear uniforms, pursuant to the Federal Employees Uniform Allowance Act, Public Law 763, approved September 1, 1954. Enclosed are justification statements which explain the estimates in more detail. Representatives of this Department will be glad to appear before your committee to further explain the items in the bill relating to this Department and to furnish any additional information which you may need. Sincerely yours, TRUE D. MORSE, Acting Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE (H. Doc. 88) Salaries and expenses, plant and animal disease and pest control, 1955 Request for 4 months from Mar. 1, 1955_. Appropriation to date_ Obligations to Dec. 31, 1954- Budget estimate next fiscal year_. Employment: Average number, current appropriation_. Actual employment Dec. 31, 1954 (including 907 veterinarians work- PURPOSE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS $700,000 17, 689, 579 7, 231, 337 6, 273, 025 17, 254, 000 3,727 16 4,035 Up to the present time it has been necessary to draw on the $400,000 contingency fund in the subappropriation "Plant and animal disease and pest control" for fiscal year 1955 to the extent of $276,000 to finance cooperative work on 4 emergency outbreak problems, the Mexican fruitfly, the khapra beetle, the European chafer, and the burrowing nematode. In planning for the remainder of the fiscal year, it is necessary to take into account estimated emergency requirements for grasshopper control and to be prepared to meet unexpected developments in connection with the Mexican fruitfly, khapra beetle, European chafer, or other contingencies that may arise. Surveys just completed indicate serious grasshopper infestations in rangeland areas totaling more than 6 million acres in 15 Western States. Of this infested area, it is estimated that a minimum of 2,600,000 acres will require treatment during the 1955 control season to avert serious damage or extensive migrations. Approximately 80 percent of this area, or about 2 million acres, is in State and private ownership on which control costs would be paid two-thirds by the States, counties, and organized groups of landowners, and one-third by the Federal Government. Justification for supplemental estimate, fiscal year 1955, for salaries and expenses, plant and animal disease and pest control Emergency outbreaks of insects and plant diseases (contingency fund): Revised total, fiscal year 1955--- $400,000 700,000 1, 100, 000 The subappropriation "Plant and animal disease and pest control," currently includes a contingency fund amounting to $400,000 which is available to cooperate with the States in controlling or suppressing emergency outbreaks of plant pests. To meet emergency situations occurring during the fiscal year 1955 a total of $276,000 has been withdrawn from this fund to cooperate with the States in meeting serious situations brought about by the Mexican fruit fly, the khapra beetle, the European chafer, and the burrowing nematode. These releases leave a balance of $124,000 available to meet such emergency conditions as may arise prior to July 1, 1955. This amount is entirely inadequate to provide urgently needed Federal cooperation to suppress expected severe and 60498-55-5 widespread outbreaks of grasshoppers in 15 States during the last 3 months of the fiscal year, and to meet other emergencies which may arise. These emergencies could not be foreseen when the original estimates for this item were submitted. Grasshoppers on rangelands It is estimated that grosshoppers in the Western States have caused losses in recent years of approximately $89 million annually to forage and rangelands belonging to Federal, State, and private owners, and $18 million annually to small grains and other crops. For the past 3 years there has been a steady, general increase in grasshopper populations infesting western rangelands, particularly in the Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado areas. These buildups have accelerated especially throughout the vast drought-stricken areas of the West. In 1953 and again in 1954 large areas of Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and other Southwestern States were denuded by drought and grasshoppers. The determination of the extent of control operations for any one year, however, must be made on the basis of current surveys. Cooperative surveys, just completed in December 1954 indicate severe buildups of grasshopper infestations on more than 6 million acres of rangeland in 15 Western States, including 1,750,000 acres in Texas (which developed from a 100,000-acre infestation 3 years ago), 900,000 acres in Colorado, 565,000 acres in New Mexico, 500,000 acres in the Oklahoma Panhandle, and 93,000 acres in southwestern Kansas. Elsewhere, severe buildups have occurred in Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, California, Oregon, and Idaho. In certain parts of the area the buildup is very severe. The entire problem is complicated by drought conditions in most of the infested area. While extreme weather conditions unfavorable to grasshopper populations could reduce the threatened outbreak, present evidence makes it imperative that planning for cooperative control action be undertaken immediately and asurance given to cooperators that funds will be available. Based on previous experience, it is estimated that some 2,600,000 of the 6 million acres will require control during 1955 to avert serious damage or extensive migrations. Approximately 80 percent of this area, or about 2 million acres, is in State and private ownership on which control costs would be divided two-thirds from States, counties, and organized groups of landowners, and one-third from the Federal Government. The estimated overall cost per acre on these lands is expected to average about 60 cents, which would amount to a total of $1,200,000, with the Federal share limited to approximately $400,000. Approximately 600,000 acres of the grasshopper-infested area which needs to be treated in 1955 involve lands under the jurisdiction of the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. Work on these lands would be financed largely from the contingency fund, with the remainder being provided from land managing agencies and the land users. At 60 cents an acre, or a total cost of about $360,000, approximately $330,000 would be needed from contingency funds. In all, a total of $730,000 of contingency funds is required. The Federal Government has been endeavoring to have the States assume more of a burden for this control program and the recent requirement for the States, counties, or landowners to assume two-thirds of the costs has been a major effort in this direction. Four States, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming are now providing the necessary funds for their share of the cost in any area where control operations are considered necessary. In these States the control program has been very effective and the threats of serious outbreaks are now much more limited and less costly to control. Other States which have been participating in the program in a more limited way, confined usually to areas of greatest infestation, are now working to provide the financial support for fully cooperative programs. This is expected to add to the immediate demand for Federal participation in the program, although over a period of years the more effective control operations should reduce the total cost. The Department, cooperating with the Department of the Interior, has the definite responsibility for controlling grasshopper infestations on Federal lands and preventing their spread to surrounding privately owned farm and range lands. Other emergencies In planning for the remainder of the fiscal year, it is estimated that $94,000 should be available, as shown in the following table, to provide sufficient funds to meet unexpected developments in connection with the Mexican fruit fly, khapra beetle, European chafer, burrowing nematode, or other contingencies that may arise. Current status of the contingency fund Appropriated, 1955--- $400,000 Less approved releases for control programs as follows: 135, 000 Khapra beetle (for cooperation with Western States in an effort to eradicate khapra beetle). 56,000 European chafer (for cooperation with New York, Connecticut, and 50,000 35,000 276, 000 NOTE.-Reimbursements from non-Federal sources above are from proceeds of sales of charts (7 U. S. C. 1387) and personal property (40 U. S. C. 481 (c)), from payments by non-Federal agencies for overtime work and travel performed at meatpacking establishments and veterinary biological establishments and for animal and plant quarantine inspection (5 U. S. C. 576; 7 U. S. C. 394, 396), from cooperating State. County, municipal, and private organizations for soil and water conservation work (16 U. S. C. 590a), and from refunds of terminal-leave payments (5 U. S. C. 61 (b)). |