harvest the crop and, in addition, the mounds will offer material obstruction to the use of machinery.

Chilton County is a leading producer of peaches, and it is feared that it will be difficult to secure harvest of the peach crop because of the presence of mounds in the orchards. The mounds and nuisance of the ants to the workers are likely also to have an effect on the harvest of hay, corn and similar crops.

To further emphasize to the committee the seriousness of the fireant problem, I want to read to you excerpts from several letters and telegrams I have received.

From Mr. B. P. Livingston, chief of the Division of Plant Industry, State of Alabama, letter of March 8:

In pasturelands we find as many as 225 mounds per acre. These mounds range in size from a few inches in height to 2 feet high. The ants are also in the yards around many homes. We have reports where newly born calves, baby chicks, young squirrels and young birds have been stung to death by these ants. I have had numerous calls from mothers here in Montgomery asking what methods could be used to kill the ants to keep them from stinging their children while playing in their yards. *** Some few years ago I was told that this inert problem could be controlled by individuals on information from the Extension Service. However, I realize now that it is too big a problem for the individual and am requesting help from the Federal Government. We feel we should have a coordinated control with the Federal Government furnishing leadership. * * *

From the Tuscaloosa county agent, B. R. Holstun, Tuscaloosa, Ala.: They are becoming a serious threat to our farming operation. Approximately 25 percent of Tuscaloosa County is already infested. We are doing everything we can as Extension Service workers to assist our farmers in the control of these insects. However, much broader control measures will have to be taken before this pest is brought under control. I mean by this that control measures will have to be taken by the State, and Federal Highway Department, the county road departments, city street department, rights of way such as railroad, telephone and powerlines.

From a telegram from board of directors of Montgomery (Ala.) Chamber of Commerce:

This pestilence threatens to become of even more serious economic consequence than the boll weevil and unless immediately controlled and eradicated will envelope the whole United States within a few years. We cannot overemphasize our grave concern over this problem which is beyond the control of the individual farmers and landowners and again we urge your active participation in solving this problem and that you keep us advised of the status of all legislation looking toward control and eradication.

From the Greensboro (Hale County), Ala., Rotary Club:

The infestation of fire ants threatens to destroy the entire economy of this section

From Attorney Marcus McConnell of Livingston (Sumter County) Ala.:

This is not only a menace to the plantlife but is dangerous to the health of our citizens. The rapid rate at which they are spreading is alarming.

From Clarence A. Latham, Jr., Route 1, Box 18-A Lawley (Bibb County), Ala. :

Dear SIR: The Government should be building almost as big a defense against fire ants as they are the Russians. The ants have already invaded.

From J. J. Parker, Route 2, Box 38, Calera (Shelby County), "Please get us help to control fire ants."

Ala.:

The executive committee of the Alabama Farm Bureau Federation adopted on March 7 a resolution which reads in part:

The tremendous damages being done to our farmland by the imported fire ant has reached the point of becoming a major disaster to the economy and efficiency of our agriculture. The control of these pests is a job of such magnitude that the cooperation of Federal, State, and local governing bodies will be essential to prevent their further spread and to eradicate them from the infested areas. Farmers alone cannot begin to combat this scourge.

The Alabama Farm Bureau, through its committees, officers, and staff has completed an exhaustive preliminary study necessary to develop a program of eradication. We have received wholehearted cooperation from the Extension Service, experiment station, entomologists, USDA specialists, the highway director, various local county governing bodies, the Governor of our State, and many others in position to assist us with this work. As a result of this extensive study, we have come to the conclusion that an eradication program must be initiated with all possible speed, and continue for the necessary time to complete the job. We fully realize and wish that it be thoroughly understood that this will involve considerable outlay of money and materials. However, every day's delay will mean additional damages and added costs of control.

These are excerpts from only a few of the hundreds of letters and telegrams I have received on this subject.

I recently sent out farmers bulletins lists and most of those who have returned the lists to me have ordered the leaflet that deals with fire-ant control. On their order blanks, they write such notes as: "We are especially interested in bulletin No. L-350 or any later information available on fire ants."

Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, E. L. Peterson, pointed out in a letter to me dated February 20, 1957, that efforts of individual property owners to control the ant have not been successful.

The imported fire ant―

he said

has spread to new areas and is rapidly becoming a major pest of pasture, cultivated crops, poultry, and livestock.

It has become increasingly evident that the United States Department of Agriculture must participate in any effective eradication program. Therefore, so that the Department of Agriculture may move forward as quickly as possible in any efforts that are to be made to eradicate this dangerous pest, I respect fully urge the immediate adoption of H. R. 5689.

Mr. ABERNETHY. Thank you, Mr. Selden.

Any questions?

Mr. BASS. How far does this ant migrate?

Mr. SELDEN. It is my understanding they can go as far north as Canada. They are already in almost every section of the State of Alabama.

Mr. BASS. Of course the main reason I asked was, I have heard nothing from my district which joins Alabama as to the coming in of these ants, but you do know for a fact that they have gone as far north as the Tennessee line?

Mr. SELDEN. That is correct. As a matter of fact, I think Limestone County was reported last week as having the imported fire ants. Mr. BASS. Are they common to any particular type of soil or plant life?

Mr. SELDEN. No. All types of cropland were involved in the table and presented as part of my statement. In the 3,450,928 acres of

infested lands in the Sixth Congressional District, for example, are found: 600,000 acres of cultivated lands; 590,000 acres of open pasture; 425,000 acres of wooden pasture; 1,780,000 acres of woodlands; city home premises, 11,750 acres; farm home premises, 11,700 acres.

Mr. BASS. According to your testimony, they really increase fast. What is their method of propagation?

Mr. SELDEN. The queen ants lay hundreds of eggs.

However, I do not know what has caused the sudden increase.

These pests came into the port of Mobile some years ago. The first sign in my district was in one county in 1949. In several of the other counties there were none until 1953. The first signs of fire ants in a few of my counties were not until 1955.

Moderate damage was not observed in most of the counties until last year and heavy damage not until this year.

Mr. Bass. Is it an airborne ant?

Mr. SELDEN. It is my understanding that the king and queen ants fly. The worker ant does not fly.

Many people think that they are moved long distances by automobiles or some means of transportation, as mounds are almost always found along road rights-of-way and railroad rights-of-way in the infested areas. Possibly the Department of Agriculture will give you more detailed information on the habits of the ants.

I would like to emphasize, however, that they are spreading rapidly and are moving in the direction of Tennessee.

Mr. GRANT. And west.

Mr. SELDEN. Yes.

Mr. ABERNETHY. Just a moment. I understand that you have several insertions that you wish to make.

Mr. SELDEN. They are included in my statement. However, I would like to include also a resolution of the Southern Plant Board at this point in the record.

Mr. ABERNETHY. Very well.

(The resolution follows:)

SOUTHERN PLANT BOARD RESOLUTION

Whereas the imported fire ant, until recently confined to the coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, is becoming a major pest of crops, pastures, home gardens, and lawns in important agricultural areas of the South; and

Whereas the fire ant in addition to destroying sprouting crops and building mounds that severely interfere with harvesting operations, attacks newly born calves, pigs, and other newborn livestock, and wildlife, particularly birds that nest on the ground; and

Whereas control measures applied on an individual property basis have failed to prevent its spread to new areas; and

Whereas the spread of the fire ant into and throughout principal agricultural areas of the United States can be prevented only by the prompt application of suppressive measures: Therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Southern Plant Board recommends immediate steps be taken to initiate a joint Federal, State, and local program leading to the eventual eradication of the imported fire ant; and be it further

Resolved, That the Southern Plant Board requests our Senators and Representatives to support and vote for the Abernethy-Grant-Selden bill or similar legislation, which would authorize the United States Department of Agriculture to cooperate with States in the control and eradication of the imported fire ant, witchweed and soybean cyst nematode.

Mr. DIXON. I have enjoyed your testimony. It is very fine.
Mr. SELDEN. Thank you.

Mr. DIXON. There is evidently widespread public concern in your State about them.

Mr. SELDEN. There is tremendous public concern. Since I returned to Washington in January I have been flooded with letters, telegrams and calls from people who are seriously disturbed about the imported fire ant. This pest is spreading very, very rapidly.

Mr. DIXON. Are you acquainted with individuals in the area who have been fighting it and what success they have had?

Mr. SELDEN. As I pointed out to you, it has just become a serious menace in our particular area.

The Department of Agriculture does have a poison that is effective. I understand. However, it is very expensive to use this poison. If you use it in one area and do not use it in another area, the chances are that the ants will return to the area in time where it has been used. Therefore, it would seem that there will have to be some effective overall means of combating it. The Department of Agriculture has decided that it cannot be successfully controlled without some type of Federal assistance or supervision.

Mr. ABERNETHY. In uniformity as to method and time.

Mr. SELDEN. Yes, sir.

Mr. DIXON. You would have to treat the woodlands, evidently.

Mr. SELDEN. As a matter of fact, there seems to be more infestation in the woodlands than in any other area of my particular section of the State.

Mr. DIXON. Have you heard any figures quoted as to cost of a typical area?

Mr. SELDEN. Yes; I have heard the Department of Agriculture say it would cost from $5 to $10 an acre.

Mr. DIXON. Thank you.

Mr. ABERNETHY. Unless sometime in the future help developed through research may provide more economic means. I understand research is being conducted at this time.

Mr. SELDEN. That is correct, Mr. Chairman.

(The following communications were submitted to the subcommittee :)

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., March 22, 1957.

Hon HAROLD D. COOLEY,

Chairman, Agriculture Committee,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR CHAIRMAN COOLEY: It is my understanding that H. R. 3476 has recently been reported to the full Agriculture Committee for hearings, and that its successful passage will serve to help eradicate the imported fire ant infestation of the Southern States. I trust you will agree with me that it is imperative the infestation be stamped out as soon as possible.

I am reliably informed that the imported fire ant now infests approximately 13 million acres in Alabama alone, posing a definite threat to the agriculturel and livestock industries of that State. Approximately 40,000 acres in Georgia are infested at the present time. The director of the Georgia Department of Entomology is firmly convinced that an all-out State-Federal program aimed at eradication is an immediate necessity.

Favorable committee consideration and support of H. R. 3476 to eliminate this very serious problem now confronting all of the Southern States will be deeply appreciated.

With kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely,

IRIS BLITCH, Member of Congress.

Hon. THOMAS G. ABERNETHY,

SACRAMENTO, CALIF., March 18, 1957.

Congressional Representative, First Mississippi District,

House Office Building, Washington, D. C.:

Wish to record earnest support for your H. R. 3476, both for needed adequate authority of USDA in the animal disease and quarantine features and for prevention and eradication of plant pests such as witchweed and soybean cyst nematode. W. C. JACOBSEN, Director, California State Department of Agriculture and Chairman, Executive Committee National Association State Agriculture Commissioners.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF., March 18, 1957.

Hon. THOMAS G. ABERNETHY,

Congressional Representative, First Mississippi District,

House Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Correction telegram by undersigned. Should read plant disease and animal quarantine features instead of animal disease and quarantine features. W. C. JACOBSEN,

Director, California State Department Agriculture and Chairman, Executive Committee National Association State Agriculture Commissioners.

Hon. HAROLD D. COOLEY,

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,

STATE OF OHIO,

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
Columbus, March 22, 1957.

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. COOLEY: We are very much interested in H. R. 3476—Mr. Abernethy, now before the 85th Congress. The bill is designed to facilitate the regulation, control and eradication of plant pests.

It proposes to repeal certain existing legislation on the subject to amend and to clarify other Federal statutes, regarding the control of dangerous insects and plant diseases which pose a threat to field, horticultural, ornamental and forestry crops throughout this country.

The enactment of H. R. 3476 would strengthen the language of such legislation so as to expedite the administration and the total effectiveness thereof.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has cooperated for many years in FederalState cooperative insect and plant disease programs of this nature, are doing so now and expect to continue in the future. Such projects have involved the expenditure of millions of dollars. The benefits which will accrue, by the enactment of H. R. 3476, will enhance the degree of success attained by these cooperative efforts.

I respectfully urge that you employ your best influences to encourage the passage of this measure.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. ABERNETHY. Thank you, sir.

JAMES R. HAY, Director.

There being nothing further to come before the committee at this time, the committee will stand recessed.

(Whereupon, at 12: 20 p. m., the committee was adjourned.)