The Service maintains a worldwide agricultural intelligence and reporting system through its attaché service. This service consists of a team of about 100 U.S. professional agriculturalists posted at approximately 60 American embassies and consulates around the world. Their areas of responsibility encompass about 110 countries. They represent the Department of Agriculture and handle all matters of trade, information needs, market development, export programs, and other agricultural endeavors.

The Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 1761) established the diplomatic title of counselor for agricultural representatives abroad. About one-half of Service overseas office heads are now at the counselor level.

Attaché reporting includes information and data on foreign government agricultural policies, analysis of supply and demand conditions, commercial trade relationships, and market opportunities. Attachés report not only on more than 200 farm commodities but also on weather, economic factors, and related subjects affecting agriculture and agricultural trade.

In Foreign Agricultural Service/ Washington, agricultural economists and marketing specialists analyze these and other reports. This analysis is supplemented by accumulated

background information and by the Crop Condition Assessment system, which analyzes Landsat satellite, weather, and other data.

The Service also has a continuing market development program to develop, service, and expand commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products. The agency carries out programs with nonprofit commodity groups called Cooperators, trade associations, and State agriculture departments and their regional associations. It manages market opportunity referral services and organizes trade fairs and sales teams.

By virtue of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, the Service received authority to open at least 6 and not more than 25 agricultural trade offices overseas to develop, maintain, and expand

international markets for U.S. agricultural commodities. Fifteen of these offices

have been established and are located in key markets such as West Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Venezuela. In addition to these market development activities, other trade programs required by the Food Security Act of 1985 have been implemented. These include the Export Enhancement and the Targeted Export Assistance Programs. These programs are geared to counter foreign subsidies and unfair trade practices by maintaining or expanding overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products.

To improve access for U.S. farm products abroad, the Service's international trade policy specialists coordinate and direct USDA's responsibilities in international trade agreement programs and negotiations. They maintain an ongoing effort to reduce foreign trade barriers and practices that discourage the export of U.S. farm products.

To follow foreign governmental actions that affect the market for U.S. agricultural commodities, the Service relies on its agricultural counselors and attachés. Special offices are maintained to work with the headquarters of the European Community in Brussels, Belgium; the International Negotiations Center in Geneva, Switzerland; and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy.

In Washington, a staff of international trade specialists analyzes the trade policies and practices of foreign governments to ensure conduct in conformance with international treaty obligations. During international negotiations, the Service provides the staff and support work for U.S. agricultural representation.

The Trade Assistance and Planning Office, established in November 1988, serves agricultural exporters who need foreign market information, as well as those who believe that they have been injured by unfair trade practices. In addition, the office coordinates reports on long-term trade strategy, foreign agricultural export assistance, and market opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports.

The Service's Office of the General Sales Manager also manages agricultural functions under the Public Law 480

Program, titles I and III (7 U.S.C. 1701, 1727) (Food for Peace Program), section 416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431), the Commodity Credit Corporation Export Credit Guarantee Programs, the Export Enhancement Program, and direct sales of Corporationowned surplus commodities. The Service also participates in the Public Law 480, title II donations program administered by the Agency for International

Development (AID). Public Law 480 is aimed at long-range improvement in the economies of developing countries. The commercial programs promote commercial agricultural exports by providing credit guarantees to exporters which are used to obtain additional U.S. exports.

Title I, the concessional sales section of Public Law 480, provides for lowinterest, long-term credit to recipients of U.S. farm commodities. Payment is generally made in dollars, and proceeds from sales into commercial channels are used by the recipient country for agricultural self-help measures and general economic development. A new program recently authorized by Congress under Title I provides credit funds to financial institutions in the recipient countries. The goal of this program is to promote economic development through the private sector.

Title III permits multiyear programming and forgiveness of dollar payments, provided the recipient country undertakes specific agricultural and economic development projects for commodities delivered under title I agreements.

The title II program authorizes the donation of agricultural commodities to foreign governments, voluntary relief agencies, or intergovernmental organizations. The commodities are donated for use abroad in meeting famine or other urgent or extraordinary relief requirements, economic development, and school lunch programs in developing areas. The overall Food AID Subcommittee, which is responsible for the U.S. Food Aid Program, is

chaired by USDA. More specifically, the Agency for International Development and USDA share responsibility for the title II program.

Section 416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 authorizes the Corporation to donate its commodities overseas. Certain sales and barter of the commodities are also authorized. The program functions are shared between USDA and the Agency for International Development. The Corporation has the responsibility for determining the types and quantities of products for programming and for making funds available in any fiscal year for programming and related specific expenditures. Program proposals must be approved by the appropriate interagency groups. In addition, Section 416 also is a source of funding for multiyear Food for Progress Development Programs. These programs are focused on agricultural policy changes and private-sector promotions.

The Commodity Credit Corporation Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM102) and the Intermediate Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-103) encourage the development or expansion of overseas markets for U.S. agricultural commodities by providing guarantees on private financing of U.S. exports to foreign buyers purchasing on credit

terms.

The foreign buyer contracts for the purchase of U.S. commodities on a deferred payment basis of 3 years or less under GSM-102, or in excess of 3 and up to 10 years under GSM-103. The foreign buyer's bank issues a letter of credit to guarantee payment to the U.S. exporter or an assignee U.S. lending institution. To receive the payment guarantee, the exporter registers the sale with CCC prior to export and pays a guarantee fee. The payment guarantee is implemented only if the foreign bank fails to pay the exporter or the assignee U.S. lending institution.

The Corporation will consider coverage on sales of any U.S. agricultural commodity that has the potential of expanding U.S. export markets. A U.S. exporter, private foreign buyer, or foreign government may submit requests that

may result in authorized guarantee coverage.

The Export Enhancement Program is designed to allow certain U.S. commodities to compete against subsidized competition in target markets. The Service is also responsible for sales of Corporation-owned surplus commodities to private trade, foreign government, and nonprofit organizations. Direct sales may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and on a cash or credit basis. The only criteria for financing direct sales are a 3-year maximum credit plan and the arrangement of suitable payment terms. Congress authorized the Agricultural Trade and Development Missions Program in December 1987 to coordinate trade programs and development activities in selected lessdeveloped countries. By sending missions composed of private-sector and U.S. representatives of USDA, Department of State, and the Agency for International Development, the program helps countries develop in a manner that will expand U.S. agricultural exports. To date, missions have been sent to Hong Kong, the Phillipines, Singapore, Indonesia, Mexico, Algeria, Tunisia, Kenya, and Cote d'Ivoire.

For further information, contact the Information Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-447-3448.

Office of International Cooperation and Development The programs of the Office of International Cooperation and Development focus on sharing

knowledge of agriculture through development assistance and cooperation with other countries.

The Office's primary activities are providing technical assistance and training in agriculture to other countries, particularly the developing world; working with international food and agricultural organizations to solve world food problems; and sponsoring scientific exchanges and research that help farmers both here at home and abroad. Many of the activities are in close collaboration with the Agency for International Development.

Also the Office is responsible for USDA efforts under the President's Caribbean Basin Initiative. The Office has worked with the Secretary's Agribusiness Promotion Council, the Agency for International Development, and others to build investment in the Caribbean Basin by U.S. companies.

Office programs in international cooperation and development benefit the U.S. economy, American agriculture, and our foreign neighbors. Information gathered in scientific exchanges and cooperative research improves America's food production and helps control insect pests and weeds that damage U.S. crops. An added benefit of these programs is that the agency's activities forge closer ties between the United States and nations of the developing and developed world, thus improving foreign relations. For further information, contact the Information Staff, Office of International Cooperation and Development, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-653-7589 or 202-653-9312.

Science and Education

Agricultural Research Service The Agricultural Research Service administers fundamental and applied research to solve problems in animal and plant protection and production; the conservation and improvement of soil, water, and air; the processing, storage, and distribution of farm products; and

human nutrition. The research applies to a wide range of goals, commodities, natural resources, fields of science, and geographic, climatic, and environmental conditions.

Research activities are carried out at 138 domestic locations, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and in 8 foreign

countries. Much of this research is conducted in cooperation with State partners in the universities and experiment stations, other Federal agencies, and private organizations. A national program staff, headquartered at Beltsville, MD, is the focal point in the

overall planning and coordination of the Service's national research programs. Day-to-day management of the various national research programs for specific field locations is assigned to 8 area offices.

Office

Address

search Center, W. Beltsville, MD 20705

P.O. Box 225, Stoneville, MS 38776 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604

80526

600 E. Mermaid Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118

800 Buchanan St., Albany, CA 94710

P.O. Box 5677, Athens, GA 30613

1812 Welsh St., Suite 130, College Station, TX 77841

Cooperative State Research
Service

The Cooperative State Research Service facilitates the advancement of science and technology in the nationwide agricultural research system by providing Federal resources, participating in cooperative program planning and evaluation, and developing a forum for coordination between the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, the Department of Agriculture, and Federal research scientists.

The Service's primary function is to administer the acts of Congress that authorize Federal appropriations for agricultural research carried on by the State Agricultural Experiment Stations of the 50 States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Micronesia, the Northern Marianas, the District of Columbia, approved schools of forestry, the 1890 land-grant institutions and Tuskegee University,

colleges of veterinary medicine, and other eligible institutions.

Research programs administered by the Service include the agricultural research act (Hatch Act revised) that provides for State/Federal cooperative funding for agricultural research programs at State agricultural experiment stations (including the Regional Research Program that facilitates collaboration on problems of national and regional significance); the cooperative forestry research program; the 1890 land-grant colleges and Tuskegee University research program; the animal health and disease research program; a special research grants program on specific problems in agriculture; the critical materials research program (including domestic rubber); a rangeland research program; aquacultural research centers; an international trade centers research program; an agricultural productivity research program; a groundwater research program; a

supplemental and alternative crops

research program; a small business innovative research program; a low-input agriculture research program; a small farms research program; a research facilities improvement program; a program of competitive and extramural grants to State agricultural experiment stations, colleges, universities, research organizations, and individuals to promote basic research; and a competitive support program in higher education.

In fulfilling its mission of advancing science and technology in support of agriculture, forestry, people, and communities, the scientific staff allocates Federal resources for the acquisition of new knowledge, promotes excellence in research, encourages the emergence of creativity in science, develops improved awareness and analysis of national problems, supports the efficient management of research institutions and programs, enhances effective leadership in science, promotes the facilitation of new scientific approaches, and strives for improved cooperation between individuals and institutions in the agricultural scientific community.

The Service also provides support and assistance for the Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Science, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board, and the Committee of Nine (for regional programs).

For further information, contact the Office of the Administrator, Cooperative State Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-2200. Phone, 202-4474423.

Extension Service

The Service was created by the SmithLever Act of 1914, as amended (7 U.S.C. 341-349). Its program responsibilities have been broadened and strengthened by amendments to the original act and other legislation, including the second Morrill Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321-326, 328); the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627); the District of Columbia Public Education Act (92 Stat. 25); the Rural Development Act of 1972, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2661-2668, 2670); the Renewable Resources

Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671); and the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 31013336).

The Extension Service is the educational agency of the Department of Agriculture and the Federal partner in the Cooperative Extension System. As a nationwide educational network, the Cooperative Extension System links research, science, and technology to the needs of people where they live and work.

The Cooperative Extension System is comprised of the Service; USDA as the Federal partner; the 1862 land-grant universities in 50 States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, and the District of Columbia, plus 16 1890 land-grant universities and Tuskegee University as the State partner; and more than 3,150 county offices representing local governments as the other partner. All three partners share in financing, planning, and conducting the Extension System's educational programs.

This nationwide network and resource of professional staff and community volunteers is a unique and integrated partnership involving Federal/State/ county governments, research, agribusiness, and the private sector. Key functions include:

-providing nationwide leadership in adapting and transferring science and technology;

-anticipating and responding educationally to critical national issues affecting the food and agricultural system;

-mobilizing resources to respond to natural disasters and catastrophes; -initiating target educational programs necessary for implementation of Federal regulations and policies; and

-developing a cadre of approximately 3 million volunteers prepared to serve the Nation, the States, and the local community.

The Extension System's educational programs are designed to access and apply USDA- and university-generated knowledge and research to critical issues in every State and county in America.