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Career Service

Opportunities

in the United States

Department

of Agriculture

Agriculture Handbook No. 45

U.S. Department of Agriculture
CAREER SERVICE

OPPORTUNITIES

In the United States Department of Agriculture

Prepared by Division of Employment, Office of Personnel

Agriculture Handbook No. 45

Supersedes Miscellaneous Publication No. 675, entitled ''Opportunities

Career Service in the United States Department of Agriculture"

Issued August 1952

he Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.
Foreword

This publication has been prepared in response to the

numerous requests for information that have been directed

to the Department. The material is necessarily in brief

form but it is believed that the information on the organization,

programs, and activities of the various bureaus and agencies

of the Department may be helpful to those desiring it.

The requests for this information have come from colleges and universities, from associations, societies, and many

scientific groups, as well as from individuals. The Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities has also urged

the preparation and dissemination of information which

would be helpful in counseling students about employment opportunities in the Federal service in the field of

agriculture. As the Department is so constandy in need of

trained and competent personnel to do the work in the

many functions required by law, I am pleased to offer this

publication to those seeking career service in the Department.

T. ROY REíD,

Director of Personnel^

U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Contents

"^.

Page

General statement iv

Specialized positions described in this publication V

Opportunities in a job with the Department

of Agriculture ^ 1

Conditions of employment in the Department 2

Salary schedule 2

Hours of work 3

Compensation and medical benefits 3

Leave benefits 3

Beneficial and recreational organizations. 4

Credit unions 4

Payroll savings plan 4

Retirement system 4

Social Security System 5

Summer employment 5

Work of the agencies of the Department 5

Immediate office of the Secretary 5

Stafi' offices of the Secretary:

Bureau of Agricultural Economics. . . 6

Library o

Office ofBudget and Finance 8

Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations . . • 9

Office of Information 11

Office of Personnel 13

Page

Office of Plant and Operations 15

Office of the Solicitor 15

Office of Hearing Examiners... 17

Agricultural Research Administration. . . 17

Agricultural Research Center. 17

Bureau ofAgricultural and Industrial

Chemistry 17

Bureau of Animal Industry 19

Bureau of Dairy Industry 22

Bureau of Entomology and Plant

Quarantine 24

Bureau of Human Nutrition and

Home Economics 26

Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and

Agricultural Engineering 28

Office of Experiment Stations 32

Commodity Exchange Authority 32

Extension Service 34

Farm Credit Administration 36

Farmers' Home Administration 38

Forest Service 40

Production and Marketing Administradon 43

Rural Electrification Administration..... 45

Soil Conservation Service. 47

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation... 49

List of additional positions in the department. . 52

iii
CAREER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

General Statement

The Department of Agriculture was created by

an act of Congress May 15, 1862. However, the first

appropriation for agricuhural purposes in this

country preceded this date by more than 20 years

and the work was carried on in the Patent Office

without special authorization.

The initial appropriation specifically for agricultural pursuits was made in 1839, when Congress

allocated the sum of $1,000 to the Patent Office to

be spent mainly in the "collection and dissemination of agricultural statistics and of valuable plants

and seeds." This work grew rapidly and in 1849,

10 years later, was transferred to the then new Department of Interior, where it remained until the

creation of the Department of Agriculture in 1862.

In 1889 Congress made the Department's head a

member of the President's cabinet. From about 1900,

the work of the Department has shown unusual

growth—many new responsibilities have been added,

resulting in new agencies and increased personnel.

The Department employs an average of 70,000 persons assigned to its constituent agencies which are

responsible for the administration of its various

programs.

The functions of the Department of Agriculture

are many. The term "agriculture" in this case

means more than the literal translation "field cultivation," of the Latin words from which it was

derived. "Field cultivation" is only one of the Department's functions. It works on the science of

shaping and conserving the land; the preservation

of the forests; it deals with the raising and harvesting of crops; it deals with the feeding, breeding,

and management of livestock, and it is concerned

with the processing, grading, inspection, transportation, marketing, and storage of the many plant

and animal products which arr useful to man, and

with research in all of these fie^^ds.

The Department's research program is very comprehensive. It covers research on food, clothing,

diseases of man, animals and plants, control of

harmful insects, and the many phases of production

and marketing. This research has made possible

many phases of the improved standard of living,

among which are the better health conditions—-the

protection against disease—the powerful drugs by

which quick recoveries from serious illnesses are

effected—information on clothing fabrics—the widespread knowledge of food values and the greater

production, with less effort, of better agricultural

products. Farther on in this publication, specific

information is given on the types of research carried on by the various agencies of the Department.

Another field of endeavor in the Department is

the work of its credit agencies. These agencies lend

money to the farmer to keep him from losing his

farm, to help him with needed repairs or to aid

him in effecting worthwhile improvements. The

credit system has been the pacemaker in introducing farm lending practices better adapted to the

farming business. This has included, among other

things, the lowering of interest rates, repayment

terms adapted to farm conditions, amortized loans,

future payment funds, and budgeted loans.

In the pages which follow, there are brief statements about the work and accomplishments of the

separate agencies of the Department and of the

opportunities for interesting and challenging jobs

which the Department affords.

iv
specialized Positions Described in This Publication

Position Described under— Pag

Accountant Commodity Exchange Authority 34

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 50

Actuary Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 50

Administrative officer Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 50

Agent (county extension) Extension Service 34

Agricultural bacteriologist Bureau of Dairy Industry 22

Agricultural economist Farm Credit Administration 38

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 50

Production and Marketing Administration 43

Bureau of Agricultural Economics 6

Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations 9

Agricultural engineer Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and Agricultural Engineering 30

Rural Electrification Administration 45

Agricultural statistician Bureau of Agricultural Economics 6

Agriculturist Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 50

Agriculturist (foreign) Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations 9

Agronomist Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and Agricultural Engineering 30

Analyst Commodity Exchange Authority 34

Analyst, records management. Plant and Operations 15

Animal husbandman Bureau of Animal Industry 20

Appraiser (land bank) Farm Credit Administration. 38

Architectural engineer Plant and Operations 15

Attorney Office of the Solicitor 17

Bacteriologist Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry 19

Bacteriologist (agricultural) Bureau of Dairy Industry. 22

Bacteriologist (foods and nutrition) Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics 28

Bibliographer Library S

Budget reviewer Office of Budget and Finance 9

Cataloger Library B

Chemical engineer Agiicultural and Industrial Chemistry 19

Chemist Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry 17

Office of Experiment Stations 32

Chemist (Textiles and Clothing) Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics 28

Cotton technologist Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry 19

County extension agent Extension Service 34

Dairy husbandman Office of Experiment Stations. 32

Bureau of Dairy Industry 22

Dairy manufacturing technologist Bureau of Dairy Industry 22

Editor • • Office of Information 13

Electrical engineer • Rural Electrification Administration 45

Engineer ^^^^ Conservation Service 49

Equipment engineer Plant and Operations 15

Entomologist • Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine 24

Office of Experiment Stations 32

Farm credit examiner Farm Credit Administration 38
Position Described under— Page

Farm management supervisor Farmers' Home Administration 38

Fiscal inspector Office of Budget and Finance 9

Forester Forest Service 42

Geneticist Bureau of Animal Industry 20

Hearing examiner. Office of Hearing Examiners . 17

Home economist. Farmers' Home Administration 40

Home economist (food and nutrition) Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics 28

Horticulturist Office of Experiment Stations 32

Illustrator Office of Information 13

Indexer Office of Information 13

Information specialist Office of Information 13

Investigator Commodity Exchange Authority 34

Librarian (field) Library 8

Librarian (reference) Library 8

Library assistant Library 8

Marketing specialist Production and Marketing Administration 43

Marketing specialist (international) Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations 9

Motion picture technician Office of Information H

Photographer (motion picture) Office of Information. H

Physicist Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry 19

Placement officer Office of Personnel 13

Plant pathologist Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and Agricultural Engineering 30

Plant quarantine inspector Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine 24

Position classifier Officer of Personnel 13

Poultry husbandman Bureau of Animal Industry 20

Publication clerk Office of information 13

Range conservationist Soil Conservation Service 49

Soil conservationist Soil Conservation Service 47

Soil scientist Soil Conservation Service 47

Telephone engineer Rural Electrification Administration 45

Textile technologist (textiles and clothing) Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics 28

Training officer Office of Personnel . 13

Veterinarian Bureau of Animal Industry 20

Zoologist (parasitology) Bureau of Animal Industry 20

VÎ
opportunities in a Job With the Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture has a wide range of

positions open to those with agricuhural, scientific,

and administrative training. For qualified, able persons desiring a career in the Federal service there are

many opportunities for interesting work. Applicants

must pass a civil-service examination before being

appointed to most positions. Examination announcements are issued by the Civil Service Commission as

the needs for recruitment arise. Since the authority

to employ personnel is decentralized, information

concerning employment may be obtained from employment officers of the Department headquartered at

locations throughout the country. Employment officers are glad to talk to applicants about employment—

to explain the objectives and accomplishments of the

individual agencies of the Department and to answer

questions that arise in connection with employment

possibilities.

It is the policy of the Department to use the skill,

qualifications, and experience of each employee to

the fullest extent practicable by placing him in the

position for which he is best fitted, in which he will

be satisfied, and in which he will give his best performance. From the time an employee enters on

duty he is aided and encouraged not only to increase

his knowledge of his job, but to take advantage of

opportunities to supplement his education for the

purpose of developing his capabilities to the fullest.

In seeking employees who are qualified and efigible

for promotion, reassignment, or transfer, the policy

is to consider first employees within the immediate

office of the agency in which the vacancy occurs, and

then in ever-widening circles of jurisdiction, if necessary, such as the region, then the agency as a whole,

and finally the Department.

Persons interested in professional or scientific

work have ample opportunity to be recognized professionally. The Department publishes a wealth of

information about all phases of agriculture, and

Departmental publications are distributed throughout the United States and foreign countries. When

published, credit is given to the persons responsible

for their contents and preparation.

Exhaustive research is conducted by the Department on practically all phases and aspects of agriculture. Professional papers are presented by employees before interested sociedes; many noteworthy

accomplishments are recognized by fellow scientists

in this way. Employment by the Department in

certain professional or scientific positions qualifies

employees for membership in professional societies

and organizations. Opportunities are excellent for

association with other specialists engaged in similar

types of professional work. Employees who are

speciafists in their fields are often made available to

other departments of the Federal service, and even

to foreign governments, to assist with particular

problems, to train persons, to accomplish new activities

or to install new agricultural programs.

There are numerous and varied opportunities for

employees of the Department to increase their educadonal training. Efí^orts of this character result in

widened professional ability of the employee and

contribute materially to success in the Department.

The United States Department of Agriculture Graduate School was established in 1921 to stimulate and

encourage post-entry education and to afford opportunities for the education and training of employees

of the Department. Its enrollment in 1951-52 was

5,927 students, practically all from among employees

of the Federal Government. The curricula reflecting

the interests and needs of the Federal service in

various levels and types of work, consist chiefly of

courses in the biological, physical, and social sciences,

in languages and literature, in mathematics and

statistics, in public administration, in Federal clerical

and administrative techniques, and in the mechanical

arts. While degrees are not conferred, credits toward

degrees are recognized by most educadonal institutions. Many employees are granted periods of leave
without pay from their positions in the Department

in order to pursue full-time studies in colleges or

universities. This is in Hne with the Department's

desire to assist employees in becoming better equipped

for advancement in the career service of the Government.

In Washington, as well as in other headquarters

cities throughout the country, schools and colleges

offer night courses that allow employees to continue

their training after work hours.

Active-service training programs in the Department are conducted for the purpose of fitting employees to perform their duties with understanding

and efficiency and to help them accept additional,

more responsible duties.

Conditions of Employment in the Department

Salary Schedule

Below is a table showing annual salary rates by

grades and schedules, depending upon the type of

assignments included in each job. The letters GS

and CPG beneath "Schedule and Grade" on the

left-hand side of the page are abbreviations for the

various schedules as follows:

GS—General schedule which includes clerical,

administrative, fiscal, subprofessional and

professional, and scientific positions (such

as administrators, clerks, fiscal officers,

marketing specialists, scientific aids, library assistants, research scientists, engineers, chemists, soil conservationists,

etc.)

CPG—Grafts, protective, custodial (including

positions as guards, carpenters, mechanics,

laborers, etc.)

SALARY SCHEDULES

Schedule and grade Beginning Intermediate Top

GS-1. . , $2, 500

2,750

2,950

3,175

3,410

3,795

4,205

4,620

5,060

5,500

5,940

7,040

8,360

9,600

10, 800

12, 000

13, 000

14, 800

1,810

2,420

2,552

2, 750

2,m^

3, 200

3,435

3,740

4,150

4,565

$2, 580

2,830

3,030

3,255

3,535

3,920

4,330

4,745

5,185

5, 625

6,140

7,240

8,560

9,800

11,050

12, 200

13,200

$2, 660

2,910

3,110

3,335

3,660

4,045

4,455

4,870

, 5, 310

5,750

6,340

7,440

8,760

10, 000

11,300

12, 400

13, 400

$2, 740

2,990

3,190

3,415

3,785

4,170

4,580

4,995

5,435

5,875

6,540

7,640

8,960

10, 200

11,550

12, 600

13,600

$2, 820

3,070

3,270

3,495

3,910

4,295

4,705

5,120

5,560

6,000

6,740

7,840

9,160

10, 400

11,800

12, 800

13, 800

$2, 900

3,150

3,350

3,575

4,035

4,420

4,830

5,245

5,685

6,125

6,940

8,040

9,360

10, 600

$2,980

GS-2 3 230

GS-3 3,430

3,655

4 160

GS-4.

GS-5

GS-6 4, 545

4,955

5,370

5,810

6,250

Gg-7

GS-8

GS-9.

GS-10

GS-11

GS-12

GS-13

GS-14.

GS-15

GS-16

GS-17

GS-18

CPC-1 1,870

2,490

2,632

2,830

3,054

3,280

3,535

3,865

4,275

4,690

1,930

2,560

2,712

2,910

3,134

3,360

3,635

3,990

4, 400

4,815

1,990

2,630

2,792

2,990

3,^14

3,440

3,735

4,115

4,525

4,940

2,050

2,700

2, 872

3,070

,3^;294

3,520

3,835

4,240

4, 650

5,065

2,110

-2,770

2,952

3,150

3,374

3,600

3,935

4,365

4,775

5,190

2,170

2,840

3,032

3,230

.3,454

3,^80

4, 035

4,490

4,900

5,315

GPC-2

GPG-3 ... . . . .

CPG-4

CPG-5

GPG-6

GPG-7

GPG-8

GPG-9

GPG-10 . . . . ;
The column entitled "Beginning" shows the entrance salary of each grade. When an individual

enters the Federal service, he must initially be paid

the entrance salary rate of the grade.

The "Intermediate" salary steps are for the purpose

of promotion within the grade. If the employee's

services and conduct are satisfactory, he is automatically promoted at regular intervals (once a year

if his entrance salary is less than $5,940; once every

year and a half if his entrance salary is $5,940 or

above) to the next higher salary rate. This continues until the "top" salary rate of the grade is

reached, unless, in the meantime, he receives promotion to a higher classification grade; for example,

from GS-5 to GS-6.

Hours of Work

In general, employees of the Department have a

40-hour workweek, 8 hours a day from Monday

through Friday. For a very small percentage of

employees, irregular tours of duty which comprise

more than 5 workdays, but not more than 40 hours

a week, have been established. This is because of

the type of work the agency performs. The 5-day

workweek makes it possible for employees to perform

their duties with maximum efficiency and still conserve their health by affording ample opportunity

for relaxation and rest. If important work is behind

schedule, occasional overtime may be necessary.

Employees required to work extra hours beyond the

40-hour week either receive additional pay or are

granted compensatory time off.

Government employees are given eight national

holidays each year. When these holidays fall on

Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following

Monday.

Compensation and Medical Benefits

If an employee becomes ill or is injured and the

cause is found to be attributable to his ofíicial duties,

he is entitled to free medical attention and hospitalization, as well as compensation benefits, provided by the

Bureau of Employees' Compensation.

The compensation benefits become payable ifthe

injury or illness incurred in line of duty necessitates

the employee's absence from duty for a sufficient

period that he is in a nonpay status from the Department for more than 3 days. Under certain circumstances the employee may later be paid for the 3

days in nonpay status. An employee may be granted

all of his allowable sick leave and annual leave and

receive full salary for the period of such sick leave and

annual leave before receiving the compensation benefits described above, or he may elect to receive the

compensation benefits beginning with the fourth day

of absence from duty and save the sick leave and

annual leave to his credit.

Leave Benefits

The leave benefits of the Federal service are

designed to maintain the health, efficiency, and

morale of employees at a high level. There are three

main types of leave, as follows:

Annual or vacation leave.—Employees earn annual

leave on the basis of length of service. Employees

with less than 3 years of Federal service earn 13

workdays of annual leave with pay each year. Employees with 3 to less than 15 years of service earn 20

days of annual leave each year. Employees with

15 or more years of service earn 26 days of annual

leave each year. This leave is intended for vacation

purposes or to permit employees to be absent from

duty for personal reasons during the workday without

loss of pay. Annual leave may be taken in units

of 1 or more hours at a time. If an employee

leaves Government service, he does not lose the

annual leave he has accumulated, but is paid a

lump sum for the amount. No charge is made

against annual leave for nonworkdays, such as holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays occurring within a

period of annual leave taken.

Sick leave.—Employees earn 13 days of sick leave

with full pay each year. Such leave may be taken

if an employee is unable to work because of illness.

It may also be used for medical, dental, or optical

treatment or examination. Unused sick leave accumulates without limit. This aflbrds employees

financial protection if they have long illnesses or have

to be hospitalized.

Military leave.—Employees who are members of

the National Guard or one of the reserves of the

Army or Navy are entitled to a maximum of 15

calendar days of military leave each year with full

pay (and without charge against annual leave) for

the purpose of military training, instruction, field

exercises, and so forth.

Leave without pay.—In the Department of Agriculture

leave without pay may be granted (provided the

employee intends to return to his job) for many

reasons—^for attending educational institutions if the

research or course of study to be pursued will result

in increased job ability applicable to the Department's

work, for military service in order to retain active

213155°—52-
reserve status, or for various emergencies which may

arise. It may be granted in case of an extended

illness so that the employee may have time to recover.

Beneficial and RecreationalOrganizations

For social and recreational activities, groups are

active in contributing to the social development

and well-being of the participating employees. An

Athletic and Recreational Association and a Welfare Association operate in Washington as well as

at any headquarters city where sufficient interested

employees participate. Dramatic groups are active,

and bowling, bridge, and book clubs have been

formed. In Washington, there are sufficient members- of the American Legion to have their own very

active United States Department of Agriculture Post.

United States Department of Agriculture clubs have

been formed in 80 cities throughout the country and

are composed of all Department employees in each

city. The Agriculture Beneficial Association, a

mutual nonprofit organization, offers insurance to all

Department of Agriculture employees at very reasonable rates, regardless of where they are stationed.

Various other organizations are concerned with the

working conditions and general welfare of all employees.

Credit Unions

Credit Unions have been set up both in Washington and at headquarters cities in the field for

the benefit of employees. Members save money by

purchasing shares and may borrow if the credit

committee approves the loan application. Loans

are made for worth-while purposes and are usually

repaid by installments due each month, with a low

rate of interest.

Payroll Savings Plan

The Department's system of payroll savings

makes it easy for einployees to save by buying United

States Savings Bonds. An employee may designate

the amount he wishes to set aside for bonds, and

automatically each payday that amount will be

deducted from his salary check. If the employee

wishes to increase or decrease the amount he invests

in bonds, he may do so at any time by notifying his

payroll office.

Retirement System

The Federal retirement has always been one of the

best of the participating or purchasable systems.

On April 1, 1948, it was improved by an amendment

to the retirement law. Participation in the Federal

retirement system is mandatory for employees serving

under permanent appointment.

Among the new provisions of the retirement system

are the widows', widowers', and children's benefits.

For example, upon the death of ä married male

employee who has completed at least 5 years of civilian

service, if he leaves a widow and children, the widow

is entitled to an annuity beginning the first day of the

month following the employee's death. This annuity

is equal to one-half of the amount that was due the

employee at his death and is paid the widow until she

dies or remarries. In addition, each child is paid an

annuity which continues until he reaches the age of

18. If he dies or marries before reaching the age of

18, the annuity is discontinued.

If an employee is survived by his widow only, she is

entitled to an annuity at the age of 50, equal to

one-half of the annuity due at the time of his death.

The annuity is payable until she dies or remarries.

Before the new law, no annuity provision was made

for the family of an employee who died in the service.

Some interesting points of the retirement system

follow:

1. Employees may retire optionally as follows:

At 60 years of age with 30 years ofservice.

At 62 years of age with 15 years ofservice.

At 55 years of age with 30 years of service (with

reduced annuity).

2. Employees are automatically retired at 70 years

of age if they have had 15 or more years ofservice.

3. If employees are disabled because* of illness or

injury after they have had five or more years of service, they may retire because of disability.

4. If an employee dies in the service after he or she

has worked five or more years, annuity benefits are

provided for his wife (or her husband) and children,

and if there is no widow, widower, or children, the

employee's retirement deductions plus interest thereon

will be paid his or her beneficiary, estate, or next ofkin.

The amount of an employee's annuity is determined

by his years of service and the highest average salary

for any five consecutive years. There are two

formulas for computing annuities. For average

salaries of $5,000 or more the annuity is Iji percent

of the average salary multiplied by the years of

service. For average salaries of less than $5,000,

the annuity is 1 percent of the average salary plus

$25, multiplied by the years ofservice.

The Retirement Act contains a generous ''jointsurvivorship" option. A husband retiring from the

service may take a reduced annuity and thus provide
an annuity for his widow upon his death. The

husband will receive an annuity reduced by 5 percent of the first $1,500 of the full annuity due him

and by 10 percent of that amount above $1,500.

His wife at his death will receive half of his full

annuity. If she is younger than age 60 at the time

of his retirement his annuity is slightly reduced.

An employee with 30 years of service whose average

salary is $5,500 will receive an annuity of $2,475.

If he chooses a "joint-survivorship" option he would

receive an annuity of $2,302.50. His widow would

receive an annuity of $1,237.50 until she dies or

remarries.

An employee with 30 years of service whose average

salary is $4,890 will receive an annuity of $2,190. If

he chooses the "joint-survivorship" plan, he would

receive $2,046. At his death, the wife's annuity

would be $1,095.

If an employee wishes to have a higher annuity

than his deductions and years of service will give

him, he may deposit what are known as "voluntary

contributions" which will permit him to buy more

annuity. Such contributions also earn interest at 3

percent. The amount of annuity purchased in this

manner depends upon the age at which the employee

retires.

An employee's contribution to the retirement fund

is 6 percent of his salary, which is automatically

deducted from his pay check. The Government

retirement plan gives the assurance of income to

take care of the average career employee and his

family during the later years of life.

Moreover, it is impossible for an employee to lose

the amount deducted from his salary for retirement

purposes, because if he leaves the Federal service

before becoming eligible for an annuity or prior to

completion of 20 years of sq^rvice all of his deductions.

together with interest thereon at the rate of 3 percent

compounded annually until date of separation, will

be refunded to him upon application.

Social Security System

Employees who are given temporary or other nonpermanent appointments become subject to the

social-security system of retirement rather than the

Federal retirement system described before.

Summer Employment

One of the advantages open during the summer

to students interested in the work of the Department

is that of summertime employment. The Department has many seasonal jobs for which applicants

are needed for the summer months only. Some of

these jobs have to do with planting and harvesting

crops, picking fruit, fighting forest fires, irrigation

of crops, insect control, assisting Department veterinarians (if the student is in veterinary school), etc.

Frequently, such summertime employment gives a

student insight into the sort of work he'd like to do

and definitely changes his course of study into more

suitable channels.

The Department has recently inaugurated a plan

whereby civil-service examinations are given undergraduate students. Upon being found eligible for

employment, the students selected are given

appointments for summer work in the Department. When the Fall school term begins, these

employees are placed on educational leave to resume

their studies. If these employees do satisfactory

work, they will be offered career employment

upon graduation without taking any additional

examinations.

Work of the Agencies of the Department

In the section which follows are brief descriptions

of the agencies of the Department, together with

statements of some of their outstanding accomplishments and their specialized jobs. In some instances,

a brief organizational setup is given. Wherever possible, a picture of either the over-all function of the

agency or an important phase of it has been included.

Immediate Ofiice of the Secretary

The work of the Department of Agriculture is

directed and supervised by the Secretary of Agriculture, who is assisted by an Under Secretary and

an Assistant Secretary. The Secretary and his assistants aid the agencies of the Department in developing

and carrying out over-all agricultural programs to

meet national and international situations.

Staff Offices of the Secretary

The stafi' offices of the Secretary include the following agencies: Bureau of Agricultural Economics,

Library, Ofiice of Budget and Finance, Office of

Foreign Agricultural Relations, Office of Information, Office of Personnel, Office of Plant and Opera-
tions, Office of the Solicitor, and Office of Hearing

Examiners.

The work of these offices is described in the sections

that follow.

Bureau of Agricultural Economics

This agency is the primary economic research and

statistical agency of the Department of Agriculture.

It continuously studies the economic factors affecting agriculture and collects a wide range of farm

statistics, which are necessary for the nation to keep

informed on agricultural conditions and prospects.

By the nature of the task, this work is of daily service

to all—in agriculture, industry, commerce, and in the

guidance of governmental affairs.

The over-all research program of this agency involves large-scale studies in the fields of marketing

and transportation, agricultural finance, farm management and costs, land economics, statistical and

historical research, and farm population and rural

life.

Activities

Examples of the Bureau's economic research and

analyses are the following:

A study of the factors relating to the determination of

reserve levels for storable farm products.—^This study was

made in 1952 at the request of the Committee on

Agriculture and Forestry of the United States Senate.

The report sets forth facts and questions which must

be considered by farmers and others interested in

agriculture, including the Congress and the appropriate policy officials of the Government, in arriving

at a judgment on the size of storable stocks and

reserves, and the terms under which they should be

carried.

Analyses by the Outlook and Situation Board of the

economic conditions of various agricultural commodities.—

These analyses are published in "Situation" reports

such as the Demand and Price Situation, Livestock

and Meat Situation, Dairy Situation, Wheat Situation,

Cotton Situation, and other key-commodity groups.

Studies of the economics of grassland farming.—These

studies evaluate the prospective costs and returns

from farming systems which emphasize forage and

livestock production. These have an important place

in the work of the United States Department of

Agriculture and the land-grant colleges, especially in

their periodic appraisals of the production capacity

of American agriculture.

The Bureau's recent studies of consumer preferences, under

the Agricultural Marketing ^ci.—These are of especial

significance in the field of agricultural marketing.

Studies include surveys of consumers' preferences for

selected fabrics, and clothing items, automobile manufacturers' preferences for fabrics and fibers used as

interior trim in passenger cars, fabricators' preferences for awning materials, and household consumers'

preferences for specific fruits and vegetables. A relatively new line of research is the taste testing of apple

juice and citrus juices, as an aid in their marketing.

Key statistics collected and published by the

Bureau include:

Monthly and annual crop, livestock, and dairy

statistics; data on warehouse stocks; monthly and

annual statistics on "prices paid" and "prices received" by farmers, together with parity-price computations; statistics on farm-wage rates, farm employment and related items. The statistics also

include data on farmers' cash receipts from farm

marketings; gross income; production and living

expenses; net incomes; the financial position of

agriculture; farm-mortgage debt; land values; farm

tenancy and ownership; input-output relationships

in farm production; per capita food consumption

and supplies; and others. (Statistical series of these

types are developed as part of the economic research

and analysis work of the Bureau).

In an efí'ort to improve and expand the role of

statistics in agriculture, a "master" sample has been

developed that will aid those making representative

sample surveys. The sample was developed by the

Bureau of Agricultural Economics in cooperation

with the Bureau of the Census and the Iowa State

College of Agriculture at Ames, Iowa.

Specialized Positions

Described below are the duties of several specialized positions, together with a description of typical

duties in each:

Agricultural economist.-^'^va^Aoyç^^s in these positions are engaged in the gathering, interpretation,

and analysis of material relating to one of these

fields: Farm management and costs, land utilization

and conservation, agricultural finance, farm prices

and income, and distribution of farm products in

the marketing system. Material is gathered from various sources such as Government reports. State and

county records, libraries, and actual surveys. These

positions range in grade from GS-5 through GS-13.

Agricultural Statistician.—Employees in these positions collect data concerning the planting, condition, and production of crops and the production

of livestock; assemble and interpret data concerning prices of agricultural products, income, and expenditures. The data are obtained by direct contact
Crop Reporting Board of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics preparing monthly crop report for the Nation based on '

data supplied by State Statisticians.

One of the field libraries of the Department.
with farmers and other sources, by mailed inquiries,

and from pubHshed material prepared by other

Federal and State agencies. These positions range

in grade from GS-5 through GS-13.

Organization

The Bureau of Agricultural Economics is divided

into four major segments; namely, Production Economics; Prices, Income, and Marketing; Agricultural

Estimates; and Farm Population. Each of the major

segments is broken down into divisions in accordance with separates lines of work.

Opportunity for Advancement

There is a continuous need in the Bureau for

well-trained economists and statisticians. Employees who demonstrate that they have the ability are

consequently promoted to more responsible assignments as soon as their development warrants.

Library

The Department Library contains more than

1,000,000 volumes on agriculture and the related

sciences, technology, and economics and receives

currently more than 20,000 periodical and serial

publications each year.

The dictionary card catalog of the Library, containing more than a million cards, is a record of

the book resources of the whole Department. It is

supplemented by several extensive special indexes.

These together form the most comprehensive bibliography of agriculture and the related sciences

available in the United States. A Bibliography of

Agriculture in printed form is issued monthly by

the Library. Miscellaneous bibliographies on special

subjects are issued from time to time.

Organization

The Department Library is comprised of the Division of Bibliography, the Division of Reference and

Lending Services (which includes the field service)

and the Division of Technical Processes. The main

Library is located in Washington, D. G. Field

libraries are located at Albany, Galif.; Albuquerque,

N. Mex.; Asheville, N. G.; Atlanta, Ga.; Beltsville,

Md.; Madison, Wis.; New Orleans, La.; Peoría, 111.;

Philadelphia, Pa.; San Francisco, Galif.; and Wyndrtioor. Pa.

Specialized Positions

Various types of positions, with brief descriptions

are listed below.

Bibliographer,—For the Bibliography of Agriculture,

librarians, each working in a particular subject field.

scan all the literature received in the Library from

all over the world, and index it to make it available

to workers in agriculture in this and other countries.

Others work on specialized bibliographies. The

grade range of these positions is from GS-7 to GS-12.

Cataloger.-—^These librarians are responsible for

classifying and cataloging published literature in the

field of agriculture and the related, sciences, and

for preparing original manuscript from which the

Library of Gongress prints cards for world distribution. The grade range of these positions is from

GS-5 to GS-9.

Reference librarian.—^These librarians are responsible

for answering all types of requests for information

found in the published literature in the field of agriculture and the related sciences and for liaison

activities with agency subject specialists. The grade

range of these positions is from GS-5 to GS-12.

Field librarian,—Included in the duties of this position are many of the duties enumerated above, as

well as selection and maintenance of a suitable collection, issuance of monthly newsletters or accession

lists, and circulation of books and periodicals. The

grade range of these positions is from GS-5 through

GS-9.

Library Assistants maintain the stacks, make additions to serial, shelf-list and other records, check in

and route periodicals, etc. These positions range in

grade from GS-2 to GS-5.

Activities

The Library has made outstanding progress in the

field of scientific management. Through the adoption of scientific techniques, it has trebled its reference

and circulation while reducing its staff. In its copying work, through construction of continuous photostating equipment which reduces the cost of supplying

photostats to less than one-third the former cost,

the Library is able to provide much more service to

the Department and the general public at much

lower cost. Photocopying facilities are available free

of charge to any member of the Department who

may need copies of publications for official use.

They are available to the general public at the cost

of the reproduction.

Office of Budget and Finance

The Office of Budget and Finance advises and

assists the Secretary and heads of the operating

agencies in the administration of the budgetary,

financial, and related aspects of the Department's

programs of work. The work of the Office includes

the general direction, coordination, and supervision

8
of the acquisition, allotment, and apportionment of

funds for carrying on all work of the Department;

accounting; auditing; budgetary and financial reporting; fiscal and procurement organization and

management; purchasing, sales, and related activities; formulation and issuance of departmental policies and procedures relating to these activities; and

the review and evaluation of the budgetary, financial, and legislative aspects of program proposals.

In cooperation with stafí' and program agencies, the

Ofiice provides leadership in the development of

improvements in the management and operation of

departmental activities. In carrying out the foregoing activities, the Office acts as the Department's

central point of contact with the Budget Bureau,

General Accounting Office, Treasury Department,

the Congressional Committees on Appropriations,

and other agencies concerned. The Office coordinates in the field the activities of the Area Agricultural Equipment Committees.

Specialized Positions

Two of the specialized positions, with brief duty

descriptions, follow:

Budget Reviewer analyzes budget estimates and

justifications of funds and makes recommendations

as to needs in relation to agency operations and

Department policies; compiles budgetary material

for ready review by departmental and other officials;

suggests improvements in agency budget procedures;

and performs related work. The grade range of

these positions is from GS-7 through GS-13.

Fiscal Inspector examines accounting systems in

the Department and makes recommendations as to

their adequacy and effectiveness; provides technical

assistance to agencies on difficult fiscal problems;

and conducts studies to find methods of improving

fiscal operations. The grade range of these positions is from GS-7 through GS-13.

Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations

The Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations

coordinates the foreign work of the Department of

Agriculture, keeps close contact with developments

abroad affecting United States agriculture, advising

the Secretary of Agriculture and United States

farming interests regarding them, and serves as a

liaison between the Department of Agriculture and

other Government agencies with respect to foreign

trade and related matters.

Additional responsibilities of the Office include

(1) obtaining from United States Foreign Service

officers and other sources statistical and other data

on foreign agricultural production, trade, and

supplies; (2) compiling, evaluating, and releasing

information on these subjects; (3) acquiring and

evaluating foreign information necessary for national

defense; (4) representing the Department of Agriculture in international conferences; (5) representing

United States overseas agricultural interests at

meetings of interdepartmental and departmental

committees; (6) making technical commodity and

regional investigations and analyses required by the

Department of Agriculture and other Government

agencies; and (7) participating in international

cooperation and assistance programs.

Organization

The Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations is

divided into three major segments—International

Commodities Branch, Regional Investigations Branch,

and Technical Collaboration Branch, each with its

subordinate divisional and sectional operations.

Specialized Positions

Professional positions in the Office of Foreign

Agricultural Relations fall principally into the

following categories.

Agricultural Economists^ who make analyses and interpretations of economic data on foreign agricultural

developments. These economists perform work from

either the commodity or foreign-area standpoint.

The result of their work is made available to the

public through regular publications of the Office,

to congressional committees, and to other interested

agencies and individuals.

International Marketing Specialists^ who travel abroad

for the purpose of developing foreign markets for

United States agricultural products in plentiful supply.

As specialists on particular agricultural commodities,

they conduct extensive surveys in foreign areas and

advise United States and foreign trade organizations,

as well as governmental agencies, on marketing

problems abroad. The grades of these positions are

from GS-5 through GS-13.

Foreign Agriculturists^ who are assigned to technical

cooperation projects abroad. Their work involves

technical training of foreign nationals in such publicservice fields as agricultural research, extension, and

education. It some cases the work is centered at

agricultural stations; in all cases it is designed to

assist a government in the development of agricultural

and related industrial methods and services suitable

to the needs of the particular area. These positions

range in grade from GS-5 through GS-13.
In India, Earl K. Rambo, agricultural engineer for the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations, teaches a class for tractor

operators under the Point Four Program.

10
Activities

Activities of the Office during the past year include

the following:

Representing the United States farming and farm

trade interests at the following: (1) the 8th Session of

the International Wheat Council in London, April

17-May 9, 1952, at which renewal ofthe International

Wheat Agreement was discussed; (2) the 11th Plenary

Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee in Rome in May 1952; (2) the World Tobacco

Congress in Amsterdam in September 1951: (4) the

International Rice Commission meeting in Bandung,

Indonesia, in May 1952; and (5) the sessions of the

International Sugar Council in London in March

1952, which discussed a possible international sugar

agreement.

Cooperating with the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations and with the

Economic Cooperation Administration and its successor, the Mutual Security Agency, in giving technical agricultural assistance abroad; and participating

directly in the Technical Cooperation Administration's technical assistance programs under Point Four

in Latin America, the Near East, Africa, Asia, and the

Pacific.

This cooperation involved giving assistance in various ways: (1) With the help of the land-grant

colleges and universities, making available United

States resources of technical knowledge of agriculture;

(2) providing trained personnel for agricultural

programs; (3) working with local agricultural representatives and experts in carrying out specific agricultural projects abroad. Such projects include

improving production of coffee, cacao, and natural

rubber in several Latin American-countries, developing a new burlap-fiber industry in Cuba, promoting

bamboo production to yield pulp for the Western

Hemisphere paper industry, and controlling a mosaic

disease of abaca in the Philippine Islands; giving

technical guidance to cooperative locust-control

efí"orts in the Middle East; and giving guidance and

leadership in many countries for setting up or strengthening public services in agricultural research, extension, and training. Assistance also includes participating with farm organizations, private commercial

agricultural institutions, land-grant colleges, and

various agencies of the Department of Agriculture in

providing educational courses and contacts for foreign

professional agriculturists who come to the United

States at a rate of 3,500 a year for special training.

Publications

The office makes its foreign agricultural information publicly available through the following published periodicals: Foreign Agriculture (monthly);

Foreign Agricultural Trade (annual—both fiscal and

calendar year—and monthly); Foreign Crops and

Markets (weekly) ; and U. S. Foreign Trade in Farm

Machinery and Supplies (monthly). It also publishes at irregular intervals Foreign Agriculture Circulars, devoted to specialized commodity subject

matter. Foreign Agriculture Reports, and various

bulletins and monographs covering a variety of

foreign agricultural subjects.

Office of Information

This office is divided into four major segments.

Brief statements on the work of each part are given

as follows:

Agricultural Publications,—^This office handles all

matters connected with publications of the Department. Through several series of technical and popular publications, it makes available, to farmers and

the public generally, information concerning food

and fiber needs, and results of research, conservation,

regulatory, and service work of the Department.

Agricultural Exhibits Service,—^Through production

and display of educational exhibits and through

correlation of exhibit activities of the Department,

this office places before farmers, homemakers and

the rural public, information on currently important

agricultural situations and subjects, and especially

the results of research.

Press and Radio Releases.—^The Office of Information

cooperates with the press and with radio stations in

disseminating useful information concerning foodproduction programs, as well as other important

programs of the Department, in an effort to help

farmers reduce production costs, conserve the soil,

improve the quality of their products, and widen

their markets. The national radio networks and

more than 500 radio stations daily donate broadcasting time to the Department for this purpose.

Motion Picture Sermce.—The Office of Information,

through this office, produces and distributes motion

pictures designed to interpret, to farm people primarily, problems and programs for agriculture and

to guide and instruct them in the production and

disposition of the food, fiber, and oil crops.

Specialized Positions

Some of the specialized positions with brief duty

descriptions are as follows:

Motion Picture Technicians and Photographers assist in

the production of both color and black-and-white

motion pictures; assist in sound recording, maintenance of sound equipment and projection of motion

213155°—52 3 11
In El Salvador, Ford Milam, agronomist for the OflSce of Foreign Agricultural Relations, works with Salvadoran scientists

under the Point Four Program at the cooperative agricultural station at Santa Tecla, taking soil samples to determine

seasonal changes in fertility.

12
pictures; develop and print all types of motion picture

film. The range of these positions is from GS-3 to

GS-9.

Information Specialists prepare or assist in the preparation of articles, reports, or manuscripts for reporting

to the general public and specialized groups general

and scientific agricultural information through publications and the press; prepare radio and motionpicture scripts on special agricultural programs and

accomplishments. The range of these positions is

from GS-7 to GS-13.

Editors edit raaterial intended for publication to

make it conform to prescribed standards of service, '• accuracy, clarity, and style in the interest of the

reader and to effective use of printing funds in making

the information available for use. The range of

grades for editorial positions is from GS-7 to GS-12.

Illustrators check and adjust publication manuscript

charts, graphs, pictures for good printing reproduction, and prepare original illustrations for Department

agencies. Grade range of these positions is GS-5 to

GS--12.

Publication clerks fill requests for publications and

general information, and after several years' training

handle telephone calls for information about the

Department and its research and other work. Grade

range of these positions is GS-2 to GS-7.

Activities

Activities of this Ofíice are:

Editorial review, check, and preparation for printer

of agency manuscripts.

Examination of articles prepared by Department

workers and submitted for delivery as speeches or for

publication in outside periodicals.

The handling of around 900,000 requests for information (including p)ublications) received from farmers, the general public, and Members of Congress.

Publication of the Agriculture Yearbook.

Complete production of motion pictures for the

Department; furnishing motion picture laboratory

and production facilities for other Government agencies; supervising the distribution and exhibition of

Department films to an estimated 14,000,000 people.

Display of Department exhibits at about 28 State

and interstate fairs, attended by an estimated

6,500,000 people.

Furnishing of special and weekly information on

Department activities to editors of women's magazines, editors of farm trade journals, and radio farmprogram directors.

Participating in several regular network broadcasts

and supplying information for special broadcasts.

Office of Personnel

The Ofíice of Personnel directs all phases of personnel management within the Department to aid

ofíicials in making the most effective use of their

human resources. It assumes, as a major duty, responsibility for integrating the personnel program

with the research, technical, regulatory, inspection,

and administrative programs of the Department.

It develops and promulgates personnel policies and

establishes and directs the maintenance of standards for organization, position classification, salary

administration, recruitment, placement, transfer,

promotion, training, employee relations, safety,

health, anä investigations. It also acts as liaison

ofíice on matters of personnel administration with

all governmental or private agencies concerned

with the work of the Department. Bureau personnel

offices are responsible for the personnel programs

within the various bureaus.

Specialized Positions

Several of the specialized positions in the Office

of Personnel, with brief duty descriptions, are as

follows:

Placement Officer sees that the best qualified people

within the Department are selected to fill vacancies;

surveys and reviews the requirements of the various

agencies to determine their personnel needs and

locates eligiblfs both within and outside the Department; establishes lists of qualified individuals available

for promotion, reassignment or transfer; aids in the

development and administration of training programs

for agency officials engaged in placement activities;

develops training material covering improved placement and interviewing techniques, writes informational material regarding employment opportunities,

and sets forth qualifications requirements for various

positions in order to locate recruitment sources.

These positions range in grade from GS-11 through

GS-13.

Training Officers develop policies, objectives, and

procedures for training courses which are department-wide in their application; conduct institutes

for the training of training officers, administrators

and supervisors; conduct studies of the needs in the

Department for pre-service training; initiate collaboration between the agencies of the Department

and schools and universities in establishing courses

and training to supply future employees of the Department. These positions range in grade from

GS-11 through GS-14.

Position Classifiers investigate, review and analyze

positions; conduct studies on delegation of classifin
An exhibit préparer in the Agricukural Exhibits Service, Office of Information, adjusts placement of a magnifying glass in

front of a model of the corn borer in the moth stage. The exhibit shows the life cycle ofthe corn borer, typical damage

to corn, and how this pest can be controlled.

14
cation authorities to the agencies of the Department; approve classification sheets describing positions; study position coverage, problem areas and

occupational groups in Washington, D. C, and elsewhere; supervise the training of position classifiers

in the agencies of the Department, and advise

agency officials on classification prior to, or during

reorganization. These positions range in grade

from GS-9 through GS-13.

Office of Plant and Operations

The Office of Plant and Operations is responsible

for the housing of departmental activities; records

management services and programs; technical advisory services where engineering principles are

involved in the acquisition, utilization, and maintenance of equipment; general coordination of technical operations in connection with departmental

mapping projects; administrative and budgetary

service functions for the Office of the Secretary; and

certain departmental services in the District of

Columbia, including telephone and telegraph, photographic, duplicating, addressing and mailing, central

storage and distribution of supplies and forms, motor

transport and service garage, and Department

post office.

Specialized Positions

Architectural Engineers make technical surveys of

housing accommodations for the Department; analyze agency programs and work requirements as they

affect the Department's space requirements in

Washington, D. C, and elsewhere; prepare space

plans, lay-outs, cost estimates, and justifications;

conduct studies of employee efficiency under varying

working conditions in order to develop acceptable

standards of heating, lighting, sound reduction,

ventilation, air-conditioning, etc.; design, supervise

the installation of, and test special building and

laboratory facilities for the Department; investigate

and report on structural hazards and building maintenance practices, and work out correct measures.

These positions range in grade from GS-11 through

GS-13.

Equipment Engineers assist Department agencies in

the development of policies and solution of problems

incidental to the selection, acquisition, operation,

maintenance, and repair of laboratory, scientific,

farm, optical, automotive, and other mechanical

equipment. These positions are in grades GS-11

and GS-12.

Records Management Analysts serve as advisors to

agencies of the Department in the formulation,

organization, operation, and coordination of records

management programs. This involves the furnishing

of assistance to the agencies in the development and

application of policies, procedures, and techniques

in connection with the creation, maintenance, use,

preservation, and disposition of records. These

positions are in grades GS-11 and GS-12.

Office of the Solicitor

The Solicitor is the chief law officer of the Department. The Solicitor also represents the Department

in administrative proceedings for the promulgation of

rules having the force and effect of law and in quasijudicial hearings held in connection with the administration of various programs. He also represents

the Secretary in proceedings before the Interstate

Commerce Commission involving freight rates on

farm commodities and in appeals to the courts from

the decisions of the Commission. The Solicitor is

general counsel for the Commodity Credit Corporation and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.

The Solicitor issues both formal and informal opinions on legal questions arising in the administration of

the Department's programs and performs a variety of

other legal services, such as the preparation and review

of administrative rules and regulations applicable to

the public, the drafting of proposed legislation, the

preparation and interpretation of contracts, mortgages,

leases, deeds, and similar documents, the prosecution

of patent applications for the Department and its

employees; the examination of titles to lands to be

-acquired by the Department or accepted as security

for loans, and the disposition of claims by and against

the United States arising out of the Department's

activities.

Organization

The Solicitor is assisted by a Deputy and five Associate Solicitors. By special assignment of the Attorney

General, the Associate Solicitor on Litigation represents the Department in certain classes of cases before

the courts of appeal. Civil litigation affecting the

Department is under the direction and control of the

Department ofJustice, with the Office of the Solicitor

assisting in the preparation and trial of such cases.

There are 10 legal divisions in the Office of the

Solicitor in Washington, D. C, under the direction

of the Deputy Solicitor and four Associate Solicitors.

There are 10 regional offices and 8 branch offices performing all types of legal work within their respective

geographic areas, 9 regional offices being in the United

States and 1 in San Juan, P. R.

15
Panoramic view of Agricultural Research Center.

16
Positions in the Office of the Solicitor

A brief statement of duties of attorneys in the Department of Agriculture follows: Attorneys perform

legal services in connection with the administration

and enforcement of the various laws pertaining to the

work of the Department. These duties involve research, interpretation and application of laws, court

decisions, and other legal authorities. Attorneys also

prepare pleadings, motions and briefs; render legal

opinions and memoranda of law; review and approve

contracts; agreements, and evidence of title to property acquired by the Government or offered for Government loans; and review, approve and interpret

rules and regulations for the various agencies of the

Department. Attorneys cooperate with and assist

the Department ofJustice and United States attorneys

in court actions affecting the Department.

Office of Hearing Examiners

The hearing examiners hold hearings, make reports, recommend decisions, and perform other duties required by the Administrative Procedure Act

and the statutory provisions, regulations, and rules

of practice applicable to the various matters under

their jurisdiction. Such matters include complaints

by the Department of Agriculture against those who

are believed to have violated the laws and regulations, the administration of which is vested in the

Department; petitions by private parties for relief

from rulings of the Department or its agents; and

hearings required in rate and other rule-making

proceedings. Under the standards established by the

Civil Service Commission, applicants for hearing

examiner positions in the Department must, in

general, have had at least six years' experience in

a judicial position or in conducting hearings of a

governmental regulating body or in the presentation or preparation of cases before courts or governmental regulatory bodies.

The grade of these positions is GS-14.

Agricultural Research Administration

The Agricultural Research Administration of the

Department of Agriculture directs and supervises

most of the scientific research activities of the Department. It determines research objectives and

plans, and it develops, coordinates, and directs research programs. The agencies of the Department

under this Administration are: Agricultural Research Center; Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry; Bureau of Animal Industry; Bureau of Dairy Industry; Bureau of Entomology and

Plant Quarantine; Bureau of Human Nutrition

and Home Economics; Bureau of Plant Industry,

Soils, and Agricultural Engineering; and Office of

Experiment Stations.

The work of these bureaus is outlined in the section that follows.

Agricultural Research Center

The Office of Operations provides for the general

supervision of the entire plant and the development

and operation of all common facilities required by

the organizations of the Department engaged in

fundamental agricultural research at the Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Md. These services

include furnishing of electricity, water, heat, telephones, building maintenance, roads, mechanical

shops, granary, guards, mail service, safety and health

and raising offeed crops for animals.

The Agricultural Research Center comprises an

area of approximately 11,700 acres on which scientific, research, and experimental activities are conducted by 10 agencies of the Department.

Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry

The Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry conducts research on the utilization of farm

commodities to help expand industrial markets for

agricultural products. Investigations by Bureau

scientists are directed toward, such objectives as

improving canned and frozen goods, finding better

ways to process cotton, leather, naval stores, and oilseed crops, developing new synthetic fibers, rubber,

and plastics from agricultural materials, and discovering wider industria] uses for wheat straw,

vegetable leaves, and other crop residues.

This work is done in the Bureau's four Regional

Research Laboratories—at Albany, Calif. (Western

Research Laboratory); Peoría, 111. (Northern); Wyndmoor. Pa. (Eastern); and New Orleans, La.

(Southern)—and in a number of other laboratories

and field stations in various parts of the country.

Specialized Positions

Among the specialized positions in the Bureau are

those of chemist, chemical engineer, bacteriologist,

physicist, and cotton technologist. Their duties are:

Chemists apply the principles of analytical, organic,

physical, and inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry

to research problems involved in the development of

new and the improvement of existing methods and

techniques for the processing of food products and

the wider industrial utilization of farm products.

17
esmm^

Separating starch granules. Department of Agricultural scientists are carrying on numerous experiments in the realm of

starches from various farm crops. This is a corner in the Northern Regional Research Laboratory, Peoría, Illinois.

18
Chemical Engineers adapt chemical-laboratory

methods and techniques to pilot-plant or full industrial-scale operations, and they work with research chemists in determining practical application

to industry of new methods or techniques developed

in the laboratory.

Bacteriologists study and investigate the role of

bacteria and other micro-organisms in the production, storage, transportation, and processing of agricultural products, as well as their role as agents in

decomposition, fermentation, and industrial processes.

Physicists conduct physical tests of agricultural

products and through the utilization of physical

laboratory equipment such as spectrographs and

related apparatus, carry out studies on important

trace elements affecting the quality of agricultural

products and byproducts.

Cotton Technologists conduct research and laboratory investigations on the development, improvement, and utilization of cotton as an industrial

product. They develop new cotton fabrics and test

them for heat conductivity, strength, wearing

qualities, etc.

Opportunity for Advancement

Advancement in position is attained in many instances through the individual research worker's

demonstrated abilities in a specialized field. Promotions also depend, of course, on the availability of

vacancies in higher grade research positions. As a

matter of general policy, vacancies are filled by promotion of employees already within the Bureau or in

the particular laboratory where the vacancy occurs.

Activities

Described in brief below are four recent achievements of this agency, one from each laboratory.

Western Laboratory.—^A major contribution to new

methods of food preservation is "dehydrofreezing,"

a process in which fruits or vegetables are partially

dehydrated and then quick-frozen. The drying step

reduces weight and volume, and thus lowers packaging, transportation, and storage costs, without

afí'ecting the flavor and food value of the product.

Northern Laboratory.—Early in World War II, this

laboratory found ways to increase production of

penicillin and make this vital drug available in large

quantities. Because of the laboratory's use of higher

yielding strains of molds and improved production

methods, the wholesale price dropped from $20

to 60 cents per 100,000 units. The laboratory's

research also increased from 3 to 18 months the length

of time penicillin can be stored without losing

its strength.

Eastern Laboratory.—Rutin, a new drug made from

green buckwheat plants has been made available

through the work ofthis laboratory. Rutin strengthens

weak capillary blood vessels and helps to prevent

certain types of hemorrhage. It also reduces the

severity and speeds the healing of X-ray burns.

Medical tests over a period of two years have shown

that rutin restores weakened capillary walls to normal

in 85 percent of the cases.

Southern Laboratory.—This laboratory has found ways

to improve cotton yarn, cord, and fabric by chemical

finishing methods which give cotton superior rotand-weather resistance and other desirable properties.

Laboratory scientists developed a highly satisfactory

process for "partial acetylation" of cotton to make it

virtually rotproof and mildewproof. This process

changes the chemical structure of the fibers but does

not alter their feel or appearance.

Bureau of Animal Industry

This bureau conducts scientific investigations of

the cause, prevention, and treatment of diseases of

domestic animals, fur animals, and poultry, and

investigates the existence of such maladies and

directs or aids in their suppression. Among these

infectious maladies are tuberculosis, brucellosis,

anaplasmosis, scabies, hog cholera, swine erysipelas, anthrax, rabies, equine sleeping sickness, fowl

paralysis, etc. The Bureau also conducts field and

laboratory studies on parasitic diseases of livestock,

including the effects of drugs on host animals and

their parasites. Other experimental work deals

with the breeding and feeding of domestic. animals,

and with improving the quality and usefulness of

their products. Such investigations include the development of superior strains and crossbred types

of beef cattle; types of sheep that are most efficient

in producing high-quality meat and wool; strains

of hogs with capacity for rapid growth and economy of gain, high fertility, and quality of carcass;

and strain of chickens and turkeys that excell in

ç^gg and meat production. A number of regulatory

acts are administered by the Bureau including the

Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Animal Quarantine Acts, the 28 hour law, the Diseased Animal

Transportation Acts, and the Virus-Serum-Toxin

Act. An exceedingly interesting and important

agency program is the one involving cooperation

with the Republic of Mexico in controlling an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in that country.

Organization

The activities of the Bureau of Animal Industry

are distributed among 13 divisions, 9 of v^hich are

19
research or regulatory divisions. These are the Animal Foods Inspection Division, Animal Husbandry

Division, Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication

Division, Inspection and Quarantine Division, Interstate Inspection Division, Meat Inspection Division, Pathological Division, Virus-Serum Control

Division, and the Zoological Division, The other

divisions have charge of administrative and informational matters.

Specialized Positions

Some of the specialized positions in this agency

are: Zoologist (Parasitology), Poultry Husbandman, Animal Husbandman, Geneticist, Veterinarian.

Zoologist {Parasitology).—Employees in these positions participate in investigations on parasites of

livestock and poultry. The work may involve studies on the mode of transmission and life history of

animal parasites, including studies of the freeliving stages of parasites in relation to the environment; studies of the biology and life history of intermediate hosts; experimental infections, of farm

animals and poultry or laboratory animals with

specific parasites to note the development of symptoms of disease; determination of effects of parasites on growth of animals and birds; testing under

controlled experimental conditions or on the farm

and range, control measures for parasites of livestock and poultry. It may involve tests with chemicals to discover and develop treatments for the destruction and removal of parasites from livestock

and poultry. These positions range in grade from

GS-5 through GS-14.

Animal Husbandman, Poultry Husbandman, Geneticist.—Since these three jobs are somewhat related,

they are described together. The animal husbandry position involves professional and scientific

work dealing with research in the breeding, feeding, and management of the various classes of farm

livestock. This research is designed to secure families, strains, breeds, or combinations thereof of animals for the purpose of increasing or improving the

quantity and quality of livestock, animal products,

or desired traits or to determine the feed and nutritional requirements for efficient production. The

general duties of the poultry husbandry position

are similar to the foregoing except that the work is

conducted with poultry and poultry products. The

animal husbandman, poultry husbandman, or geneticist, performs professional work associated with

the breeding, feeding, or management of such animals as cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, or fur animals. Such positions involve working directly with

the experimental livestock and poultry for a considerable portion of the time, the accumulation of data

and their analysis, compilation of reports, and similar duties. The grade range for the first position is

from GS-5 through GS-14; for the other two, the range

is from GS-5 through GS-13.

Veterinarian.—Such employees are engaged in

various animal disease control and eradication activities; in Federal Meat Inspection; in the control

and supervision of the production of veterinary

biological products; and in research in animal diseases and parasites. These positions range in grade

from GS-7 through GS-16.

Vacancies in the positions described above are

filled from time to time at the following locations:

Zoologist {Parasitology).—^Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Md.; Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Ga. ; United States Regional

Animal Disease Research Laboratory, Auburn, Ala.;

at the New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station

near' Las Cruces, N. Mex.; and in Chicago, 111.

Animal Husbandman, Poultry Husbandman, Geneticist.—

Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Md.; Experiment Stations of the Animal Husbandry Division

located at Dubois, Idaho; Miles City, Mont.; Glendale, Ariz.; Jeanerette, La.; Fort Reno, Okla.; Fort

Robinson, Nebr.; Front Royal, Va.; or Brooksville,

Fla.

Veterinarians.—^At most of the field stations of the

Bureau located throughout the country.

Activities

The Bureau of Animal Industry has gained worldwide recognition for its many accomplishments which

have contributed so largely to the protection and

improvement of the livestock industry of the nation.

One of its most notable achievements is the organization and development of the Federal meat inspection service to its present high degree of efiñciency

in safeguarding consumers against unhealthy or

unwholesome meat and meat food products distributed through interstate commerce. A few of the

Bureau's accomplishments are cited below:

Hog Cholera Conquered by Serum-Virus Treatment. The research of Dorset, McBryde, and Niles

who first discovered the cause of hog cholera and a

successful immunizing treatment.

Phenothiazine, Versatile Drug for Controlling

Livestock Parasites. A highly effective practical

means of reducing heavy losses caused by internal

parasites of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine.

Protecting Man Against Trichinosis. Research

20
Drawing sample of blood for Bang's test at Beltsville, Maryland.

21
work that underlies the modern practices of cooking

pork well both in homes and industrially, as a health

safeguard.

Sanitation System Controls Swine Roundworms.

A research achievement that annually saves swine

growers millions of dollars, through a simple practical method of protecting pigs against roundworms,

one of the worst pests of swine.

Small-Type Turkey Successfully Developed. A

result of research, dealing in the field of genetics,

having broad appeal to turkey producers and consumers alike, due to small families and small ovens.

Protection Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease. Veterinary studies illustrating the manner in which

scientific. findings provide a basis for sound legislation and regulations.

Effective Drug Treatment for Hookworms. Bureau scientists combined their knowledge of chemistry, parasitology, and biology to evolve a treatment

for hookworms, useful in both veterinary and human

medicine.

Catalogue of Animal Parasites of the World. Several Bureau scientists evolved an extensive card

catalogue that is virtually a rogues' gallery of dangerous parasites.

Bureau of Dairy Industry

The Bureau of Dairy Industry conducts research

to improve the economic welfare of the dairy industry. Its research deals with the problems of

breeding, feeding, and management of dairy cattle

to improve their producing efficiency; with the nutritional requirements of dairy cattle for maintaining the highest levels of usefulness and the value

of feeds, feed constituents, and feeding regimes as

sources of nutrients; the nutritional value of milk

and the effect of nutrition of the cow upon the

milk produced, and the physiological factors affecting

the general economic usefulness of dairy cattle;

with the improvement of the quality of dairy products

and methods of manufacturing new dairy products;

with problems of utilizing the byproducts of dairy

manufacture more efficiently, including methods of

incorporating byproducts on their constituents in

foods for human use. It maintains and analyzes

production records of all cows in dairy-herd-improvement association herds for the purpose of identifying

sires and determining their breeding value. The

Bureau also supervises the sanitary inspection of

process butter factories.

Work Locations

The research work relating to dairy products is

carried on in laboratories in Washington, and at

Beltsville, Md., and from time to time agency specialists conduct demonstrations in commercial plants to

introduce new or improved methods of manufacture.

The research pertaining to dairy cattle breeding,

nutrition, physiology, feeding and management problems is conducted principally at the Agricultural

Research Center, Beltsville, Md., but investigations

and demonstrations in dairy production are also conducted at other field experimental stations, mostly

in cooperation with the State agricultural experiment

stations located at Huntley, Mont.; Mandan, N.

Dak. ; Woodward, Okla. ; Jeanerette, La. ; Lewisburg,

Tenn.; and Willard, N. C. The Bureau also maintains cooperative work with each of the 48 State

Agricultural colleges.

Specialized Positions

Three specialized positions in this Bureau with

brief duty descriptions are listed below:

Dairy Husbandman advises on, administers, supervises, or performs research studies and investigations

in the breeding, nutrition, management, housing,

growth, body form, physiology, and anatomy of dairy

cattle. This includes research on establishing sound

breeding programs; finding better and more economical methods of feeding and managing herds of dairy

cattle; and reporting results of investigations in

writing. These positions range in grade from GS-S

through GS-11.

Dairy Manufacturing Technologist advises on, administers, supervises, or performs research work related

to studies of dairy manufacturing operations involved

in processing milk and its by-products to produce

butter, cheese, concentrated milks, ice cream, market

milk, process butter, and other related food and

nonfood products. These positions range in grade

from GS-5 through GS-11.

Agricultural Bacteriologist performs general bacteriological work i. e., makes bacterial counts, prepares

special media, identifies bacteria, studies eff'ect of

environmental factors on growth, etc., with special

emphasis on lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms associated with dairy products. These

positions range from grade GS-5 through GS-11.

Locations of Positions

The positions of Dairy Manufacturing Technologist

and Agricultural Bacteriologist are located in the

Dairy Laboratories in Washington, D. C, or at the

Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Md. The

positions of Dairy Husbandman may be at Beltsville,

Md., or at any one of the field station locations.

22
Exhibit of registered Holstein cattle on farm operated by Bureau of Dairy Industry, during a tour by farm paper

editors. Among the cows shown were several class leaders of the Holstein breed. The herd is milked thrice daily and

no effort is made to push the individual cows for high production. The cows are stabled throughout the year with no

pasture afforded them. This is done to maintain better control of environment factors.

23
opportunity for Advancement

Opportunities for advancement are favorable for

those who demonstrate on the job their ability for

handling the duties of a higher grade position.

Activities

This agency has many outstanding accomplishments

to its credit. Several are described below:

It has demonstrated through research the effectiveness of the proved sire theory of breeding for improving milk and butterfat production in herds.

The influence of proved sires and sons of proved sires

is now being spread more widely through artificial

breeding.

The agency has developed a simple, practical, and

successful method of making silage from crops that

ordinarily are grown for hay. The new method,

known as the wilting method, is easy to use and it

saves both the cost and labor involved in ajdding such

materials as mineral acids, molasses, or ground

com-and-cob meal.

It has developed a process for making a synthetic

textile fiber with certain wool-like properties from the

casein of skim milk.

The commercial production of lactic acid by

fermenting the milk sugar in whey began in the

United States in 1935 as the result of research conducted in the agency.

Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine

The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine

conducts research investigations on insects to determine how to control or eradicate harmful insects

and utilize beneficial insects. Studies are made

concerning the classification, anatomy, physical

habits, and responses of insects under normal and

artificial conditions. It develops information on how

insects which are injurious to agriculture animals,

annoy or injure man, or infest human habitation or

industry, may be eliminated. The Bureau conducts

chemical investigations to develop new insecticides

and provides research to improve methods and equipment for their application. It conducts control

programs directed toward the control or eradication

of economically important harmful insects and plant

diseases in cooperation with Federal, State and local

agencies. The Bureau is responsible for the enforcement of Federal plant quarantines and regulatory

orders to prevent the spread of plant pests in the

movement of plants and plant products* into this

country from foreign countries and in interstate

commerce within the United States.

Organization

The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine

maintains its headquarters at Washington, D. C,

with 5 • regional administrative offices and approximately 500 laboratories or stations located throughout

the United States and in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto

Rico, Mexico, France, and Egypt.

Specialized Positions

Two of the specialized positions in this agency are

Plant Quarantine Inspector and Entomologist. These

positions range in grade from GS-5 through GS-14.

A brief description of duties follows:

Plant Quarantine Inspectors participate in planning and

carrying out a program for protecting the nation from

the entry and spread of foreign plant pests by enforcing the provisions of pertinent legislation, and

orders, quarantines, and regulations issued thereto.

They examine incoming carriers and cargoes, baggage,

and mail for restricted or prohibited plant material.

They inspect, treat, and otherwise safeguard importations of plant material for injurious plant pests.

Entomologists plan and conduct investigations on the

development of control measures against insects

affecting crops, stored products, man or animals;

and the utilization of beneficial insects. Investigations include studies in insect biology, ecology,

morphology, and taxonomy; research to determine

the abundance and distribution of insects; and the

development of cultural control, mechanical control,

biological control, chemical control, plant resistance

to insect attack, and insect transmission of plant

diseases.

Opportunity for Advancement

The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine

follows a promotion-from-within policy. Therefore,

persons appointed at grade GS-5 are in line for

promotion to higher grades on the basis of need and

individual abilities.

Activities

A few of the agency's outstanding accomplishments

are described in brief below.

Hornñy control on cattle.—-The use of the newer

chemicals to control hornflies on beef and dairy cattle

is credited with increasing meat and milk production

valued at $45,000,000 in 1948, the first year this new

technique resulting from Bureau research was widely

employed by the Nation's livestockmen. Currently

more than one-third of all the cattle in the United

States are being treated one or more times for the

control of this pest. It is estimated that 5 cents

24
C-47 plane spraying the new high-powered insecticide, Aldrin, for the control of a grasshopper outbreak in the grasslands

of Wyoming.

25
worth of insecticide provides $10 worth of extra beef.

Experiments conducted by the Illinois Experiment

Station prove that the control of hornflies on dairy

cattle increasesmilk production as much as 20 percent.

Improved gi"asshopper control.—Bureau research since

1948 has so advanced grasshopper control methods

that scientists of this agency have become internationally renowned, and have been called on by several foreign countries to assist in the control of grasshopper outbreaks. Research in the use of new

chemicals materially increased the effectiveness and

lowered the cost of control with poisoned baits, and

more recently the development of low dosage chemical

sprays applied directly to infested areas, has made

control practical on even low per-acre value range

lands. Research has shown that as little as one-half

ounce of insecticide gives nearly complete control of

grasshoppers on an acre of land. In addition to

control materials, control methods have been improved, so that today many farmers practice early

season control in restricted areas where grasshoppers

lay their eggs. Low dosage chemical sprays applied

to such undisturbed areas as fence rows, field margins,

and roadsides at hatching time result in effective

control, and avoid the problem and cost of spraying

entire fields to control adult grasshoppers.

New screw-worm smear developed.—The development

by Bureau scientists in 1950, of a new remedy to be

used as a wound treatment for controlling the screwworm on livestock and fleece-worms or wool maggots

on sheep has provided farmers and ranchers with a

more effective remedy that is easier to use. Because

of the use of the chemical, lindane, in EQ-335, this

new smear has long-lasting toxicity that not only

reduces the frequency of treatments necessary on both

infested and noninfested wounds but kills the adult

screw-worm flies that attempt to feed or lay eggs in

wounds.

Aerosol bomb.—The development of the aerosol

bomb during World War II is an outstanding achievement of this agency. The use of the bomb by the

military forces greatly reduced the incidence of

malaria, dengue, and other insect-borne diseases

among troops. During the war more than 35 million

aerosol bombs were used to protect the armed forces

against mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects.

"Aerosol" is the scientific term for a smoke or fog.

The aerosol is made by dissolving an insecticide in a

liquid gas held under pressure in a container. The

container has a valve which, when opened to release

the pressure, causes the insecticide to be dispersed into

the air in extremely small particles, which form the

aerosol. Aerosol is widely used in homes, in greenhouses, and to some extent for the control of certain

types of agricultural pests under field conditions.

Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics

The Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home

Economics is the chief government agency conducting

research on behalf of the Nation's 33 million homemakers. For this group the Bureau provides scientific

facts for everyday living—facts that can be put into

practice to make a better-fed, better-clothed, and

better-housed America. It also prepares scientific

and technical reports of its research to provide data

wanted by manufacturers and merchandisers, as well

as by educators and Government agencies.

Description of the Staff

In this Bureau, a staff numbering 250 persons are

working on a dozen or so broad problems. Additional

research personnel work on cooperative projects at

the State Agricultural Experiment Stations throughout

the United States.

Most of the staff members are scientific and professional specialists, and their aides. The rest of the

Bureau's personnel provides the administrative and

other services needed to keep the wheels of research

running smoothly.

As might be expected, many of the scientists are

home economists with training that makes them

useful in some particular field of research. Most of

them have studied home economics, with a major or

minor in some allied specialty, such as experimental

cookery, nutrition, textiles, clothing, housing, household equipment, and many have a plus in chemistry,

bacteriology, physics, statistics, economics, sociology.

Besides these home economists, the research staff

includes both men and women who are highly

trained and experienced as -chemists, physiologists,

physicists, bacteriologists, and economists who now

enjoy applying their specialized knowledge to some

practical household or consumer problem.

Since the research job is not done until the findings

are presented in usable form for various groups, on

the Bureau's staff are editors, writers, and others

versed in preparing material for use by the public.

The results of such research are then made available

to the public in popular bulletins, technical and

scientific bulletins, articles and reports, pictorial

charts, motion pictures, and slide films, press releases,

and radio scripts.

Work Locations

The Bureau's research divisions which require

laboratories are situated at the Agricultural Research

26
Research to learn more about nutritional contributions from the fat and lean of meat.

27
Center near Beltsville, Md. These are the Divisions

of Food and Nutrition, Textiles and Clothing,

Housing and Household Equipment.

The Family Economics Division works in the

Department's headquarters in downtown Washington. This division sends out interviewers to gather

its basic figures from families in many parts of the

country. Also at headquarters are the information

division and administrative offices.

Specialized Positions

Some of the specialized positions in this Bureau,

together with brief descriptions of typical duties, are

given below.

Home Economist (Foods and Nutrition) works on

problems concerning the preservation of poultry,

fruits and vegetables. These positions range from

GS-5 through GS-14.

Bacteriologist (Foods and Nutrition) works on the

bacteriological problems concerned with the processing, preparation, and preservation of foods.

Determinations are made of the degree and type of

bacterial contamination. In some investigations, experimental animals are inoculated with toxic products

offood poisoning microorganisms and the pathological

findings recorded. The grade range of these positions

is from GS-5 through GS-13.

Textile Technologist (Textiles and Clothing) applies

physics to determine the mechanical properties of

textile materials such as shrinkage and stretch,

elastic recovery, warmth properties, abrasion resistance, breaking strength and elongation. Equipment

used in these laboratory investigations include breaking-strength machines and other machines and apparatus to measure such qualities as elasticity, air

permeability, thermal-transmission and abrasion.

After completion of the experiments, the textile technologist prepares reports, including tables, charts,

and graphs for publication. These positions range

in grade from GS-5 through GS-13.

Chemist (Textiles and Clothing) conducts research

on the laundering and dry cleaning of fabrics. Typical duties consist of preparing solutions, treating fabrics

with various soiling mixtures under specific conditions.

After the treated fabrics have been laundered and/or

dry cleaned, laboratory tests are made to determine

the chemical and physical changes that have occurred. These positions range in grade from GS-5

through GS-13.

Activities

Some of the Bureau's outstanding achievements are

noted below.

Pioneered in designing functional work clothes for

women's comfort, efficiency, and safety in farm,

factory, and household work.

Conducted intensive research which has put home

canning on a more scientific basis, so that homemakers

may combine safety with better products.

Translated human needs for calories, protein, minerals, and vitamins, as defined by nutrition standards,

into family food plans at different cost levels.

Issued comprehensive tables of food composition,

based on review of the world's scientific literature.

These tables giving figures on 11 nutrients and energy

value in terms of calories, are regarded as authoritative

both here and abroad.

Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering

This agency conducts research on the production

and improvement of farm crops, fruits, vegetables,

and other plants; plant diseases, including diseases

of forest and shade trees and forest products; soil

management, irrigation, and fertilizers; and the

application of engineering principles to agriculture.

Research with plants is designed to reduce the hazards of production and improve the yield and quality

of all crops. Soils investigations seek toward the

determination of systems of soil management and

irrigation that will increase soil fertility and give

most efficient crop production. Soil studies also

deal with the improvement of fertilizers and liming

materials, and the classification and mapping of

soils by cooperative soil surveys. Investigations of

agricultural engineering problems are concerned

with the improvement of farm machinery for planting,

cultivating, fertilizing, spraying, dusting, and harvesting crops, the development of improved equipment

and facilities for processing and storing farm products,

the design of improved farm buildings and houses

and the development and application of electrical

equipment to farm use.

Organization

The Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering is organized into four groups

or divisions engaged in research on (1) field crops,

(2) agricultural crops, (3) soils, and (4) agricultural

engineering.

Specialized Positions

Some of the specialized positions in this agency

are: Agricultural Engineer, Agronomist, and Plant

Pathologist. The grade range of these positions is

from GS-5 through GS-16. Brief duty descriptions

follow:

28
Breeding for resistance is usually the most effective and permanent method of combating virus and other destructive diseases

of crop plants.

29
Agricultural Engineers plan and conduct research

and investigations in farm machinery, farm buildings

and their equipment, farm electrification, the processing of farm products, drainage, irrigation, and

the engineering phases of soil conservation.

Agronomists conduct research in the application

of the fundamental principles of plant, soil, and

related sciences to the problems of field crop improvement (including breeding, production, and culture);

conservation crop and turf establishment and management; propagation and seed production; ground

maintenance; and plant adaption and varietal testing.

This work involves research in cereals and grain

grasses, legumes and forbs used for forage, hay, green

manure, or conservation purposes; tobacco; cotton

and other fibers; rubber plants and shrubs; sugar

plants; and plants used for drugs and medicinal

purposes.

Plant Pathologists study the cause, nature, prevalence,

and severity of parasitic, non-parasitic, and virus

diseases attacking economic plants; experimentation

in or the establishment of methods for the prevention

or control of such diseases; and the effects of these

diseases on the planting, cultivation, transportation,

and storage of plants or plant products.

Opportunity for Advancement

The research positions in thiis agency range in

grade from GS-5 through GS-16. Advancement

depends upon such considerations as the individual's

productiveness, the quality of his research, his ability

to plan and organize research investigations, his

ability to cooperate with his coworkers and employees

of other Government and State agencies and the

advancement of his training for research work.

Activities

Since its organization in 1901, scientists of the

Bureau have had a hand in the improvement of all

of the major crops grown in the United States. Plant

breeding continues to be a principal activity. It

is carried on in cooperation with workers at the

Agricultural Experiment Stations of 44 States and,

in the case of certain studies, with foreign countries.

Plant explorers of the Bureau comb the world

in their search for wild and cultivated plants carrying

desirable germ plasm. The agency maintains living

collections of breeding material of important crop

plants. For example, the world wheat collection

contains more than 10,000 varieties of wheat. This

material is screened for resistance to dominant crop

pests under a wide range of conditions. Then

through careful breeding techniques, the gerni plasm

with resistance to disease and insects, cold, and

drought, is combined with other desirable characters.

The resulting crosses are also widely tested. Each

new variety released is the equal in all respects and

superior in many features to varieties previously

available.

Much of the agency's research today is concerned

with agricultural uses of chemicals. One of the

most dramatic developments along this line—

the use of growth-regulating compounds to control

weeds—was first suggested by a Bureau scientist

in the early 1940's. Since 1946 these materials

have been used increasingly as selective herbicides

and are now applied to millions of acres each year.

The Bureau carries on studies in the fundamental

nature of growth-regulating compounds and related

chemicals, methods of application, and the efiects

of the chemicals on crops and weeds.

Beginning in 1930 Bureau workers screened

thousands of chemicals for their fungicidal properties and demonstrated that certain new organic compounds were superior for this purpose. The agency

carried on continuous research in the evaluation

of new fungicides and methods of application.

One of the major objectives of soil chemistry has

been to develop chemical methods for estimating the

nutrient or fertility status of soils.

In the past few years radioactive isotopes have become a valuable tool in soil investigations. With an

electronic device such as the Geiger counter it is

possible to trace radioactive elements through the

soil, into the roots, and through the plants. The new

technique is providing specific information on where

and how fertilizer should be placed to give plants the

greatest benefits and what kinds of fertilizers work best

on the country's varied soils.

The efficiency offertilizers is being greatly improved

through studies on fertilizer placement and new developments in fertilizer-distributing machinery.

Agricultural engineers of the Bureau also seek to

devise better ways of harvesting, conditioning, and

storing crops. For example, a shift in emphasis

from row crops to grassland farming underscores the

need for efficient machinery to harvest grass and

legume seed. Research in the nutritive value of hay

has shown the advantage of barn-curing over fielddrying.

Research on new farm applications of electricity

includes studies on the use of electric traps for insect

control, bactericidal radiation for the control of

poultry diseases, and the design of short-time electric

milk pasteurizers. Exploratory research is in progress

to find farm applications of ultrasonic energy.

30
View of the chemical wing of the administration building of Federal Experiment Station in Puerto Rico.

31
Office of Experiment Stations

The Office of Experiment Stations serves as a

liaison agency between research administrators

and professional personnel in the State agricultural

experiment stations and similar personnel in the

Department of Agriculture in the development of

cooperative research and better integration of research at the national and local levels in all fields

of agricultural science. In the administration of

Federal-grant funds, technical specialists work closely

with personnel in the States on the planning, development, and evaluation of research. They also

review and pass upon the merits of each new research

project proposal involving use of Federal-grant funds,

take active part in technical planning conferences,

and visit a number of State agricultural experiment

stations each year to review research programs in

progress.

Organization

This agency has three divisions, as follows: the

Division of Administrative Services, and the Division of Grant-Fund Administration which are

located in Washington, D. C, and the Federal

Experiment Station located at Mayaguez, P. R.

The first two serve as a staff agency in the coordination of research and the administration of Federalgrant funds. The Puerto Rico station serves as a

tropical outpost of the Department for conducting

experiments, primarily in the plant field, which can

best be conducted in a tropical environment.

Specialized Positions

Professional positions in Washington carry the

title of Experiment Station Administrator and are,

for the most part, in grades GS-12 and GS-13. Personnel in these positions must be specialists in one

field of agricultural science, such as entomology,

dairy husbandry, horticulture, etc., since these

employees are responsible for proper administration, planning, and development of research in

their fields of agricultural science conducted at the

State stations, and since they must deal directly

with highly trained personnel located in all states,

Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico.

At the Federal Experiment Station in Puerto

Rico, professional positions are mostly in grades

GS-9, GS-11, and GS-12 in the fields of entomology,

chemistry, or some branch of plant science. Such

personnel act as project leaders in conducting research on tropical crops.

Activities

For a period of over 60 years the Office has

worked with the agricultural experiment stations

in the development of a great program of agricultural research which the Federal-grant funds have

supported to a considerable extent. Today the

closely coordinated efforts of the Departmental research agencies and state experiment stations represent an efficiently functioning national research

program. While the Federal-grant funds and Stateappropriated funds are so intermingled in the support of the research programs at the individual

experiment stations that it is difficult to separate

the accomplishments of either program, the Federalgrant funds have, to a large extent, supported much

of the basic fundamental research underlying the

great volume of applied research, results of which

are now in practice on the farms throughout the

Nation.

Specific accomplishments of the Federal Experiment Station in Puerto Rico are here indicated.

The Station introduced and developed diseaseresistant varieties of sugar cane which virtually

saved the industry on the island.

The Station developed a sweet corn adapted to

the tropics which was used extensively by the armed

forces during the war.

The present program is concerned with research

on insecticidal crops, vegetable crops, drug crops,

grasses and legumes, weed control, vanil^la, and plant

introduction.

Commodity Exchange Authority

The Commodity Exchange Authority administers

the Commodity Exchange Act. Its activities involve

Federal regulation of all commodity exchanges

which conduct futures trading in any of the following commodities; Wheat, cotton, rice, corn, oats,

barley, rye, flaxseed, fats and oils (including lard,

tallow, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, and

all other fats and oils), cotton seed meal, cottonseed, peanuts, soybeans and soybean meal.

Its functions and procedures are designed to

prevent commodity price manipulation and corners; prevent dissemination of false and misleading

crop and market information to influence prices;

protect hedgers and other users of the commodity

futures markets against cheating, fraud, and manipulative practices; insure the benefits of membership privileges on contract markets to cooperative

32
Trading Floor of a Board of Trade. Futures trading on the principal commodity exchanges is supervised by the

Commodity Exchange Authority to insure fair practice and honest dealing.

33
associations of producers, insure trust-fund treatment of margin moneys and equities of hedgers

and other traders and prevent the misuse of such

funds by brokers; and provide information to the

public regarding trading operations on contract

markets.

Organization

The Commodity Exchange Authority has four

divisions as follows: Compliance and Trade Practice Division, License and Rules Division, Segregated Funds Division, Trading and Reports Division. These divisions are headquartered in Washington, D. C. There are also field offices in Chicago,

Kansas City, Minneapolis, New Orleans, and New

York.

Specialized Positions

Three of the specialized positions of this agency

with brief duty descriptions are given as follows:

Investigators search for alleged or apparent violations of the law and accumulate legal evidence

as a basis for administrative or criminal action.

They also conduct trade practice surveys which are

investigations of all trading in a certain commodity

on one or more markets during a specified period of

time, and appear as expert witnesses in administrative hearings and court cases. These positions

range in grade from GS-7 through GS-12.

Accountants carry out the audit program of the

Authority which involves the examination of books

and records of brokers for the purpose of assuring

compliance with the segregation provisions of the

act; they conduct audits to confirm the accuracy of

reports filed with the Authority; and conduct accounting investigations and compile legal evidence

and appear as expert witnesses in administrative

hearings and court cases. These positions range in

grade from GS-7 through GS-12.

Analysts compile, analyze, and evaluate basic data

on futures and cash commodity activities; they

prepare reports for administrative use and furnish

factual and statistical material for use in administrative activities and prosecutions. These positions

range in grade from GS-7 through GS-12.

Activities

A few of the accomplishments of this agency are

given below.

The activities of the Commodity Exchange Authority have protected producers, consumers, and

the general public against excessive speculation

and manipulation of prices of important agricultural commodities.

The agency has helped to prevent fraud and

dishonesty in the execution of commodity futures

transactions. Through its audit and investigatory

work it has safeguarded the funds of producers' cooperative associations, merchandisers, processors,

and other traders.

Investigations of fictitious transactions in commodity futures have resulted in the issuance by the

Bureau of Internal Revenue of instructions which

will mean assessment of millions of dollars of additional income tax liabilities. These revenues would

otherwise have been lost to the Government.

Extension Service

Extension work in agriculture and home economics is a cooperative on-the-ground educational

undertaking of the United States Department of

Agriculture, the land-grant colleges, and groups of

rural people within the respective counties. The

Federal Government's share of this work is carried

on by the Extension Service. Through cooperative

relations with the colleges, programs are undertaken

among men, women, and youth so that they may

use agricultural knowledge and information coming

out qf Departmental and State experiment station

research in practical application to real-life situations.

Much of the service is also increasingly directed at

helping urban groups of people in connection with

problems arising in the fields of gardening, nutrition,

and consumer marketing.

Organization

Approximately 13,000 Federal, State and county

cooperative employees conduct the cooperative extension program. The services of professional personnel are strengthened and augmented by over a

million unpaid volunteer local leaders—men, women,

and older youth—^who act as leaders in assisting

county extension agents. County agricultural, home

demonstration, and 4-H Club agents are located in

nearly every agricultural county of the United States.

Specialized Positions

Since county extension agents play such a prominent part in the work of the Extension Service, an

informal description is given below of their duties.

A county agent's job is probably one of the most

complex ever encountered. When Norman Rockwell recently trailed a county agent for several days

while on his round of duties, he admiringly remarked, "He's a farm expert, educator, organizer,

diplomat and trouble shooter." The job of the

county a^^ricultural agent is primarily educational.

34
In good times and bad times, the county agent is a welcome visitor on farms throughout the nation. He brings a helpful

hand and a fund of scientific information. Almost before the blow was over which leveled the barn on this Wisconsin

farm, County Agent Baker called on the discouraged farm family with a book of plans and sketches which would

eliminate some of the disadvantages of the old barn.

35
He aids farmers in setting up and maintaining selfteaching programs for better farming and living.

Since he is employed jointly by the Department and

by the state in which he works, he has two sources of

information for carrying on his activities. The

cooperation of farmer committees and volunteers in

adult-education and youth-club work is necessary to

the effectiveness of his program.

The county extension agents help with practically

any and everything. They may give tips on farm

cooking and canning, how to cull chickens or test soil,

what characteristics to look for in a good calf, how to

exhibit produce at the fair, and what to exhibit. The

agent especially encourages the efforts of the young

people on the farm, whether they are attempting to

raise a bigger crop, grow a fatter pig, or build a better

fence.

Last year one of the Department's county agents

drove 20,000 miles, visited more than 800 farms,

advised more than 3,800 farmers who came to his

office and attended more than 300 meetings, at which

he either presided or took part.

Activities

A few of the accomplishments of this agency in

helping farm people are here set forth.

Applying the findings of research on their farms and

their homes through demonstrations, meetings, individual help, publications, and other ways.

Solving problems through group action.—Helping farm

people understand the value of organization and

helping them understand problems and work effectively as a group in meeting those problems best met

by group action.

Mobilizing rural people to meet emergencies.—This has

been abundantly revealed in times of drought, flood,

hurricanes, fires, ravages by insects and diseases, and

in wartime when problems of food production and

meeting farm labor shortages were uppermost.

Improving family diets.—^Through careful study and

understanding of food values and nutrition, extension's home economics program has helped make it

possible for homemakers to provide better diets, and

hence, improved health and happiness for their

families.

Working with rural youth.—^Through the medium of

4-H Clubs, more than 15 million boys and girls have

engaged in organized group activities, in which they

carried on projects related to farm, home, and community life. These activities help youth develop skill,

pride in farm life, and confidence in themselves.

Developing rural leadership.—Perhaps the greatest

achievement of extension has been its contributions

to the development of the leadership capacity in rural

people themselves.

Farm Credit Administration

The Farm Credit Administration supervises a

cooperative credit system which provides long- and

short-term credit to farmers, stockmen and farmer

cooperatives throughout the United States and Puerto

Rico. It also conducts research and educational work

related to problems of marketing, purchasing, and

business services for farmer cooperatives.

Organization

The headquarters of the Farm Credit Administration and the Central Bank for Cooperatives are in

Washington, D. C. In each of 12 Farm Credit

districts there is a Federal land bank, a Federal intermediate credit bank, a production credit corporation,

and a bank for cooperatives. Long-term mortgage

loans and short-term operating loans are made

through 1,200 local national farm loan associations

and 500 production credit associations respectively.

Loans to farmers' marketing, purchasing, and business

service cooperatives are made by the 12 district banks

for cooperatives and the Central Bank for Cooperatives. Farmer-members who borrow from the national farm loan associations own all of the capital

stock of those associations. These associations^ in turn

own all the stock of the land banks. The memberborrowers own most of the stock of the production

credit associations and the borrowing cooperatives

own part of the stock in the banks for cooperatives.

Their respective farmer-members elect the directors of

the national farm loan associations and the production credit associations! In further carrying out the

principle of cooperative control, each of the 12 Farm

Credit districts is governed by a board of directors, of

which part of the members are elected by the local

associations and by cooperatives borrowing from the

banks for cooperatives.

Loan funds used by this cooperative credit system

are obtained principally by selling securities to investors

in the investment markets. These securities, backed

by farmers' and cooperatives' notes and mortgages

and other collateral do not carry any Government

guarantee.

A cooperative research and service division in Washington, D. C. conducts research studies and carries on

educational work relating to farmers' cooperatives.

Locations of District Offices

The headquarters of the 12 district offices are as

follows: Springfield, Mass.; Baltimore, Md.; Colum36
LOAMS THROUGH r,

FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

Employee explaining help available to farmers from Farm Credit Administration.

37
bia, S. G.; Louisville, Ky.; New Orleans, La.; St.

Louis, Mo.; St. Paul, Minn.; Omaha, Nebr.; Wichita,

Kans.; Houston, Tex.; Berkeley, Calif.; and Spokane,

Wash.

Specialized Positions

Some of the specialized positions in this agency are

listed below with brief duty descriptions.

Land Bank Appraisers make appraisals of farms offered

as security for long-term mortgage loans. These positions range from the equivalent of GS-3 through GS13.

Farm Credit Examiners examine regularly the books

and records of the banks, corporations, and associations

under the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration. These positions range from GS-7 through GS13.

Agricultural Economists carry on research work in

the fields of marketing, purchasing and business services as they relate to farmer cooperatives. The grades

of these positions are from GS-5 through GS-15.

Activities

A few of the agency's accomplishments are briefed

below.

Farmers and their marketing and purchasing cooperatives have borrowed over 20 billion dollars

through this credit system since 1933, when the Farm

Credit Administration was established, of which they

share the ownership and control. Currently they

have loans outstanding from these credit co-ops of

about 2.3 billion dollars.

These credit cooperatives have set the pace in the

farm lending field by introducing methods of lending

that particularly suit the needs of farmers and ranchers

who have a sound basis for credit. The loans from

the credit cooperatives—production credit associations

. and national farm loan associations—have been of

great assistance to hundreds of thousands of farmers

in building up sound farm businesses and becoming

the owners of them. Loans by the banks for cooperatives and the research and educational program of

the Cooperative Research and Service Division have

played an important part in rapid development of

strong, efíicicnt farmer marketing, purchasing and

business service cooperatives during the past 25 years.

The 10,000 farmers' marketing and purchasing co-ops

alone now have memberships totaling over 5,000,000

and do nearly 9 billion dollars a year business.

Farmers' Home Administration

The Farmers' Home Administration provides small

farmers with credit to improve farming operations

or become owners, and supplements its loans with

individual guidance in farm and home management

when necessary. For farmers unable to obtain the

credU they need at interest not exceeding 5 percent

from banks, cooperative lending agencies or other

local sources, the following types of assistance are

authorized: operating loans for buying livestock,

seed, fertilizer, equipment, supplies and other operating needs, and for subsistence; 40-year farm ownership loans to buy, improve or enlarge family-type

farms; mortgage insurance for loans advanced by

private lenders for the same purposes as direct farm

ownership loans; loans to build or repair farm dwellings or other farm buildings; loans to continue farming

operations in designated areas where farmers have

suffered widespread production disasters; and loans

for water facilities in the 17 Western States.

Organization

The organizational structure of this agency includes

a National Office, in which the Administrator, with

the assistance of a technically trained staff, plans,

directs and executes under powers and authorities

delegated to him, all functions of the agency. There

are Area Examination Offices which plan and conduct

the audit and investigations of the agency's activities

within assigned areas, and Area Finance Offices which

plan and execute finance and accounting functions

within a designated area.

State.Office,—Each State office has a State Director

who is responsible to the Administrator. Assisted by

technically trained staff and a State Advisory Committee, he plans, coordinates, and directs all activities

of the agency in one or more States.

County Office.—^The typical county office is composed

of a Farm Management Supervisor, GS-7, a Farm

Management Supervisor, GS-5, and a Clerk-Typist,

GS-3. The GS-7 Supervisor, assisted by his staff

and a county committee, exercises, within delegated

authorities and established policies, full responsibility

for the making or processing and the servicing of all

types of loans authorized under the agency; provides

supervisory assistance to the agency borrowers to

insure their progress; maintains adequate records of

all activities and operations, and keeps the community

informed of agency activities and services.

Specialized Positions

Two of the specialized positions in this agency are

given below, with a brief description of duties.

Farm Management Supervisor performs professional

work in the field of supervised agricultural credit in

State or county office. The work involves planning

farm operations with individual and eligible low38
Farmers' Home Administration Supervisor advising with borrower about applying water to potatoes.

39
income farm families, analyzing their problems, farm

organization and management. This is accomplished

through the use of record books, a farm plan and

supervision of the problems on the farm. It includes

the making of production loans for the purchase of

livestock, seed, feed, fertilizer, farm equipment and

supplies, the making of loans for the purchase or

enlargement of family-type farms, the making of loans

for the improvement of farm-housing and the servicing

of all such loans and collections when they come due.

These positions range in grade from GS-5 through

GS-12.

Home Economist performs professional work in the

field of home economics; or serves as home management supervisor for a county or a group of designated

counties; or performs related work. One example of

specific duties would be to study and analyze living

problems of borrower families in an assigned area as

related to nutrition, health, clothing, housing, furnishings, and equipment, financial management, care of

children, education and community interests, and give

technical guidance to families in the solution of these

problems. These positions range in grade from GS-5

through GS-12.

Opportunities for Advancement

It is the policy of the Farmers' Home Administration

to promote from within the organization whenever

possible and reassign employees to positions where

they can perform more efficiently. Accordingly,

when vacancies occur, first consideration is given to

filling them by promotion or reassignment of employees of the agency.

Activities

Approximately 275,000 family-type farmers were

achieving improved living and efficient production

during the 1951 fiscal year with production and subsistence, farm ownership (direct and insured), farm

housing, and water facilities loans, and credit to

condnue farming operations in disaster-loan areas.

Nearly 120,000 families obtained loans during the

year.

Records of operating-loan borrowers who paid off"

their loans in 1951 and continued farming showed an

increase of 66 percent in value of farm production,

even though the average borrower came on the program 3.5 years earlier, or in 1947 when prices were

higher than in 1950. When they came on the program, 39.5 percent were owners, but 48.6 percent

were in that class when they paid on". They improved

their tenure as well as their production while operating

their farms with supervised credit.

More than half of the fiscal year 1951 farm ownership loans were for making farms more efficient and

productive through development and enlargement.

About 84 percent of all the farm ownership funds

loaned during the year went to veterans.

Over 5,000 farm owners constructed or repaired farm

homes or other buildings with farm housing credit in

1951. Water facilities loans went to 1,145 individuals

and 30 incorporated associations. Over 13,000 farmers in disaster-loan areas were able to continue with

farming operations by means of disaster loans.

Forest Service

The Forest Service is charged with the responsibility for promoting the conservation and best use

of the Nation's forest lands, aggregating approximately a third of the total land area of the United

States. The three major fields of activities of the

Forest Service with brief descriptions of the work

in each follow.

The administration of the national forests. The

Forest Service administers 152 national forests.

These forests are in 40 States and Alaska and Puerto

Rico. They comprise 1^0,000,000 acres. The Service improves them, protects fhem from fire, insects,

and disease. Technical methods of forestry are

applied to the growing and harvesting of timber.

Livestock grazing is scientifically regulated. Water

from protected watersheds is iised in the country and

in cities, for domestic, agricultural, and industrial

purposes. Provision is made for simple, inexpensive

forms of outdoor recreation.

Forest research. The agency conducts investigations in the entire field of forestry and wild land

management. It is conducting a forest survey of the

United States, which is a study of the Nation's present and potential forest resources. This research is

carried on in the forest and range experiment stations and in the Forest Products Laboratory.

Cooperation in forestry. States and private owners

of forest lands receive cooperation from the Forest

Service in the application of sound forest-management

practices, in the maintenance of organized protection

of forest lands against fire, and in the distribution of

planting stock.

Organization

Regional Offices of the Forest Service are maintained in Missoula, Mont.; Denver, Colo.; Albuquerque, N. Mex.; Ogden, Utah; San Francisco,

Calif.; Portland, Oreg.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Atlanta,

Ga.; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Juneau, Alaska. In

40
Scaling logs for timber sale. Payette National Forest, Idaho.

41
addition, the Forest Service has 12 regional forest

and range experiment stations and a Forest Products

Laboratory at Madison, Wis.

Specialized Positions

One of the speciaHzed positions in the Forest

Service is that of Forester the grade levels of which

extend from GS-5 through GS-16. The first grade

level of this position, GS-5, is used as an orientation

and training assignment. Vacancies in higher grade

positions are usually filled by promotion from within

the agency. Recruits are assigned as assistants to

District Rangers, project leaders, or research workers. These are field assignments and nearly 100 percent of the time of GS-5 Foresters is devoted to work

in the National Forests or at the Forest and Range

experimental stations. They are not ordinarily permanent assignments insofar as headquarters are

concerned. Frequent moves from one locality to

another are the general rule. The young forester is

apt to have his headquarters shifted frequently,

somewhat like the civil engineer. If he is an able

man, he may ultimately advance to a position which

will give him more permanent headquarters and

greater opportunity for home life.

The character of the work which foresters are

called upon to do varies greatly. For many in the

higher positions, the work is in large part administrative—conducting timber sales, supervising range

use, organizing and maintaining a fire-control organization, and handling various other operational

jobs involved in the management of a forest area.

Some men spend the greater part of their time in

such work, as determining the amount and rate of

timber growth on given tracts, or working out the

best methods of cutting to obtain a second crop

without recourse to planting. Problems relating to

forage on the ranges and the determination of grazing capacities and systems of range management that

will improve and perpetuate this resource constitute another field. Other men deal with wildlife and

its management. Special aptitudes or interests may

lead some men permanently into research, flood

control or soil conservation work; and others may

find openings in connection with various forest,

watershed, and land surveys, recreation work, wildlife management, and in the extension of sound

forestry practices in agriculture and industry.

Opportunity for Advancement

The Forest Service has a comprehensive career

and promotion plan based on training on the job

and periodic checks on accomplishment. While no

within-service promotion examinations are held,

advancement is based on competition. Higher grade

positions, except for a few specialized positions in

research, are filled by promotion.

Activities

Described below are a few of the outstanding accomplishments of the Forest Service.

At the present time the Forest Service is cutting

more than 4 billion board feet of timber a year, and

moving it through productive channels to meet important needs.

The Service grazes 9,000,000 head of livestock

on the national forests, ranges and maintains extensive

habitats for wild game.

The Forest Service provides outdoor recreational

facilities which the agency's records show are used

by literally millions of people. The 1950 record indicated that more than 27 million visits had been made

to national forests for recreational purposes.

All of the above activities are handled with special consideration for the yield of usable water from

drainages within the national forests. Many of the

national forests are at high altitudes both in the

East and in the West and therefore guard the headwaters of streams which provide water for industrial, agricultural, and domestic purposes.

At the Experiment Stations of the Forest Service,

problems are being worked on both in management

of the national forests and for the needs of States

and private owners throughout the country. Since

the inception of World War II, many economic

and other studies have been carried on for the purpose of assisting timberland owners and users in

making the most productive use of critical materials.

Only about one-fourth of all of the forest land

in the country is within the national forests and

the production from these lands amounts to only

about 10 percent of the total lumber production

of the United States. From this it is self-evident that

improvement of productivity on private forest land

is of primary importance. The Branch of State and

Private Forestry of the Forest Service cooperates

with States and through various media with private

owners, large and small, including farm woodlot

owners, in forest fire protection and in applying

forestry practices that will assure maximum sustained production both as to quantity and quality

from this major source of necessary forest production.

42
Production and Marketing

Administration

The Production and Marketing Administration

manages a large number of activities affecting the

production, marketing, and consumption of agricultural commodities. These activities are as follows: (1)

The defense food program; (2) agricultural conservation; (3) adjustment, including acreage allotments

and farm marketing quotas; (4) price support; (5)

foreign supply; (6) foreign purchase; (7) surplus

removal; (8) stabilization of sugar production and

marketing; (9) International Wheat Agreement; (10)

school lunch; (11) marketing research; (12) marketing

services, including market news, standardization,

grading, inspection, and classification; (13) marketing

regulation, including marketing agreements and

orders; and (14) transportation and warehousing.

Personnel and facilities of the Production and

Marketing Administration are utilized in the administration of Commodity Credit Corporation programs.

Organization

The agency has a number of commodity branches

as well as branches and offices responsible for specific

programs or functions. The commodity branches

are: Cotton, Dairy, Fats and Oils, Fruit and Vegetable, Grain, Livestock, Poultry, Sugar, and Tobacco.

Branches and offices carrying on programs or functions

relating to all commodities are: Agricultural Conservation Programs Branch, Fiscal Branch, Food Distribution Branch, Marketing and Facilities Research

Branch, and the Transportation and Warehousing

Branch, and Office of Materials and Facilities, Office

of Requirements and Allocations, Office of Price,

Office of Information Services, Office of Audit, Office

of Administrative Services, Office of Budget, Office

of Compliance and Investigation, and Office of

Personnel Management.

Specialized Positions

One major group of specialized positions includes

marketing specialists who formulate, develop, or modify

programs, policies, procedures, reports, and analyses

regarding (1) the production, grading, marketing,

processing, distribution, utilization, purchase, pricing,

and storage of certain assigned commodities and (2)

regarding regulations, price reporting, costs and

incomes, loan subsidy, diversion and sales programs

relating to these commodities. They also prepare

and analyze reports containing data used in estimating

future yields and prices; analyze dockets, contract

agreements, and forms for program use relating to the

assigned commodity or commodities. Some of the

commodities dealt with in these positions are

poultry, fats and oils, livestock, meat, and wool.

Some of the marketing specialists' positions deal

entirely with food distribution. The grade range of

these positions is from GS—7 through GS-14.

Another major group includes positions of agricultural economists who conduct research into assigned

economic projects on the basis of personally developed or specified types of studies, surveys, or

investigations. These positions range in grade from

GS-5 through GS-14.

Activities

A few of the outstanding accomplishments of the

Production and Marketing Administration in recent

years are as follows:

The Price Support Program.—Price support, carried on

since 1933, is now mandatory for corn, cotton, wheat,

tobacco, rice, peanuts, wool, mohair, tungnuts, honey,

and milk and butterfat. Prices of other commodities

may also be supported if certain requirements laid

down in price support legislation are met.

Experience over the years has proved that price

support benefits both farmers and nonfarmers.

In terms of a living standard, price support has

meant—^for the farm family—proper medical and

dental attention; additional education; electric power;

a telephone ; the repayment of old debts. The income

security provided the farmer also has made it possible

for him to increase the productivity of his farm—to

conserve the soil; to purchase labor-saving machinery;

to improve herds and flocks; to erect new or repair old

farm buildings.

Price support, by removing farmers' fears of drastic

price breaks, has encouraged the abundant production required by nonfarmers. Because the price support program has maintained farm income at fair

levels, farmers have been eager purchasers of the goods

and services made available by urban businessmen—

farm purchases totaling $25,000,000,000 in 1950.

This farm market, in addition to providing profits,

has helped to maintain nonagricultural employment,

accounting, in 1950, for about 15 percent of total nonfarm employment.

Price support has not been carried on without cost

to the taxpayer, of course. But in relation to all the

benefits derived from this program, the cost has been

small. In the more than 18 years—^from 1933 through

1951—net realized losses from price support totaled

a little over a billion dollars. That is an average of

about $55,000,000 per year.

The National School Lunch Program.—The Production

43
PRODUCTION^^^MARKETING ADMINISTRATION

PRODUCTION [ COMMODITY

CREDIT CORPORATION MARKETING

1 fy/fh knowleef^et skills, and finance cooperates witli farmers^

processors, and distributors to provide consumers with

standard commodities at fair prices to all

FROM FARM TO CONSUMER

Q, Has apart in administering 42 congressional acts related

to theproduction and marketinq of farm crops and

conservation of natural resources.

44
and Marketing Administration provides assistance to

public and private schools, of high school grade or

under, operating nonprofit school lunch programs.

This assistance takes two forms: Funds provided to

schools on the basis of their need for assistance and

number of meals served—the Federal funds being

matched by funds from sources within the States; and

donations of food acquired directly for school lunch

use or acquired indirectly under surplus removal programs. In addition to providing lunches to children,

thus improving their nutritional status, the program

also provides a highly useful outlet for surplus foods

that might otherwise be wasted.

In the fiscal year 1951, a total of 8,600,000 children

participated in the national school lunch program—

a record. A Federal appropriation of $83,500,000 for

school lunch operations was more than matched by

an estimated total contribution of $280,000,000 from

sources within the States.

Standardization and Inspection of Agricultural Commodities.—This is one of the most vital phases of the operation of the Production and Marketing Administration.

It develops yardsticks of quality by which commodities may be bought and sold the world over. For

example, in the fiscal year 1951, over a million cars of

fresh fruits and vegetables and 150,000,000 cases of

fruits and vegetables were inspected by Federal and

State officials. Prior to the establishment of standards

and inspection by the Department, the farmer and the

fruit and vegetable industry found it practically impossible to carry on long distance dealings satisfae^

torily. Without official standards, there was no yardstick for measuring differences in quality, no intelligible basis for advertising, making loans, settling

disputes between buyers and sellers or quoting market

news prices.

Marketing Research Work.—^Two projects illustrate

the value of this work. An experiment on the shipment of cantaloups in railroad cars with crates standing on their ends instead of in the usual lengthwise

position showed that refrigeration space was saved,

breakage of crates was reduced two-thirds, and bruising of melons reduced by one-half. The project

demonstrated that over a million dollars could be

saved a year by this simple change in the method of

loading.

A study of the different methods of receiving apples

(unloading, moving to the stacking point and stacking)

in 15 plants, showed that costs ranged from highs of

$9.58 and $6.75 per thousand boxes to a low of $1.93

per thousand boxes. A survey of 252 apple packing

and storage houses showed that 83 percent of the

plants were using the two least efficient methods and

equipment. Significant savings were made possible.

The following are a few of the research activities

of PMA:

Twenty-two projects for planning and promoting

the construction of satisfactory wholesale market

facilities were active during the year. Development

of a new crate for shipping lettuce reduced losses

materially, and the crate is being widely used by the

produce industry. A method for quickly measuring

the break-baking qualities of wheat was developed,

and a detailed description ofthe method and apparatus

was issued for use of the industry.

A soybean marketing study showed that producers

can increase net returns on soybeans most years by

storing their crops on the farm at harvest time for

later sale. At the end of the year over 23,000 retailers

or their employees had been given instruction in

improved methods of merchandising fresh fruits and

vegetables.

Analysis of storage methods for shelled corn revealed defects in design and construction ofsome

types of bins. A number of changes vv^ere made in

Quonset-type structures and ventilation ducts were

improved significantly.

Rural Electrification Administration

The Rural Electrification Administration makes

loans to finance construction of rural power lines and

to finance improvement and expansion of rural telephone service; Eiectrifcatic^il JQ are vdSê^jprincïpally to'farmer-ownÄ'coqperafiyes. REA pr

help to co-ops in planning systems to niake electricity

available to all rural people, helps rural people make

effective use of electric power, and offers counsel and

advice on construction, management, and operating

problems. REA has recently expanded its telephone

staff" to provide comparable help in the telephone

field to its increasing number of telephone borrowers.

Specialized Positions

The positions in which this agency is especially

interested are those of Electrical, Telephone and

Agricultural Engineers from GS-5 to the GS-11

level. The GS-5 positions are trainee positions.

During the 1-year training period, engineers at the

GS-5 level work in Washington, D. C. In order

that they may become familiar with REA policies,

procedures, and methods of operation, trainees are

assigned to several diff*erent offices of the Agency to

become familiar with the various activities of the

program. During these assignments the trainees perform work which will give them an understanding

of the major procedures of that particular division or

45
CS^v

Linemen work through heavy snow to keep Rural Electrification Administration financed co-op power lines in service,

assuring dependable electric service to farmer members.

46
area activity as well as of the over-all program.

Trainees also make inspection trips to nearby electric

or telephone borrowers' systems and, time permitting,

are assigned to a co-op for a period of about a month.

Opportunity for Advancement

Agricultural engineers who complete their training

period successfully are promoted at the end of the

year to grade GS-7 and are assigned full time to field

work in power use activities. Electrical engineer

trainees who successfully complete their training will

be assigned to electrical engineering duties in the

electric power generation, transmission, and distribution fields, or to telephone engineering duties in the

design and appraisal of telephone plant facilities. In

addition to office positions, field assignments may be

made to any section of the country, and the needs of

the program and the desires of the employees are

considered in selecting field locations. There is

ample opportunity for promotion beyond the GS-7

level as agricultural, electrical, and telephone engineers acquire additional experience.

Activities

When Rural Electrification Administration was

created, only about one farm in ten had electric

service. Now more than 85 percent are served.

This program has required the investment of more

than Iji billion dollars of Federal funds, which is

being repaid with interest ahead of schedule. The

new power lines which may be credited to the Rural

Electrification Administration have added to the

Nation's strength. They have permitted more than

3,500,000 American families to increase farm production and better their social and economic positions.

When Congress authorized the Rural Electrification Administration to undertake a rural telephone

loan program to meet the great need of rural people

for adequate telephone service, fewer farms had telephones than in 1920. The demand of rural people

today for telephones corresponds to their demand in

the early thirties for electric service. As this booklet

went to press, loans had been made to 102 commercial companies and 68 cooperatives in 38 States. The

first REA-financed rural telephone facilities went into

service in Virginia in September 1950.

Soil Conservation Service

The basic purpose of the Soil Conservation Service

is to aid in bringing about good physical adjustments

in land use. This is being done to better human

welfare, conserve natural resources, establish a permanent and balanced agriculture, and reduce the

hazards of flood and siltation. Some of the more

common soil and water.conservation'practices are

contouring, strip cropping, terracing, land leveling,

crop rotation, and conservation management of

range, woodland, and wildlife. The Service also

conducts research in soil conservation, which helps

solve operational problems, determines efficiency of

practices, and finds new and better methods for the

Soil Conservation Service to use in its field work.

The technicians of the Service work directly with

farmers and ranchers in soil conservation districts

organized under State laws and operated under

farmer direction. The Service promotes the application of tested soil and water conservation practices.

Organization

The Soil Conservation Service is organized on a

regional basis with its main headquarters in Washington, D. C. It has about 3,500 offices located in

every State in the Union and also in Hawaii, Puerto

Rico, and Alaska. The headquarters of the regional

offices are located in Upper Darby, Pa.; Spartanburg,

S. C; Milwaukee, Wis.; Fort Worth, Tex.; Lincoln,

Nebr.; Albuquerque, N. Mex.; and Portland, Oreg.

Specialized Positions

Some of the specialized positions in this bureau,

together with brief duty descriptions, are as follows:

Soil Conservationist.—^The principal job of the Soil

Conservationist is to work with farmers and ranchers

who cooperate with soil conservation districts. He

helps them to analyze their farming and land use

problems and works out with them ways and means

of planning and installing soil and water conservation

practices that will provide a profitable operation of

the farm enterprise. He must be able to deal effectively with rural people both individually and in

groups. He must also be able to interpret from maps

such physical information about the land as the kind

of soil, degree of erosion, slope, degree of wetness, and

the condition of ranges and pasture and other land

use information so that the capability of the land for

continuous production without impairment can be

determined. These positions range from GS-5

through GS-15.

Soil Scientists collect physical data on which conservation farm planning is based. Those whose

major experieTice and training have been in soils and

closely related subjects and who understand the

relationship of soils and plants to each other, find

opportunities for work in the field of soil science.

The range of these positions is from GS-5 through

GS-13.

47
The Soil Conservation Experiment Station is a proving ground for the conservation practices needed to combat soil

and water losses on a watershed. Effects of erosion on slopes of varying charaaeristics are scientifically measured, and

the control methods are tested under practical field conditions. The results prove invaluable in conservation farm

planning.

That portion of the station seen in this photo shows how a conservation farm plan fits the land like a tailor-made suit

of clothes. In this strip cropping system long winding rows on the contour cling to curves on the slopes. Bands of closegrowing grasses between the corn and grain crops slow the water run-off and hold the soil. Where the grade becomes

steeper and longer, in the foreground toward the left, terraces break the slope into a series of short slopes. Water is

further retarded to soak into the ground and to deposit its soil content. Note the contour fence below the corn strip.

Pasture and woodland occupy land that is too steep or otherwise undesirable for cultivation. The trees around the

building serve as a windbreak. Small uncultivable areas are planted to wildlife cover.

48
Engineers solve problems of safe water disposal and

utilization through the use of various /mechanical

and vegetative measures. Agricultural and civil

engineers whose training and experietíce have been

directed toward the solution of drainage and irrigation problems or in planning, designing, and constructing various types of hydraulic projects involving earth-moving and reinforced concrete construction are needed in soil conservation work. These

positions range in grade from GS-5 through GS-13.

Range Conservationists advise with farmers and

ranchers on plans for stocking, grazing, and managing

their ranges and pastures in accordance with good

conservation practices. These positions range in

grade from GS-5 through GS-13.

Opportunity for Advancement

The Soil Conservation Service is a career-service

organization whose activities have expanded in the

past few years. As such, its policy is to employ people

in the lower grades and promote them to positions of

higher responsibility in the organization as they gain

skill and experience.

Activities

The Service has made detailed conservation plans

for more than 920,000 farms and ranches in the

United States that cover about 255 million acres,

and all of the conservation treatment has been completed, according to plan, on about 150 million acres,

^" '"^his treatment included the making of all needed

changes in land use and the application of those

conservation practices needed to keep the land continuously productive. The treatment was planned

acre by acre in accordance with the capabilities of

the land as determined by soil conservation surveys

previously made. By all reasonable standards, this

work is of a permanent nature.

The Service has developed many new techniques in

the science and art of land conservation through research and field studies. It has become the acknowledged world leader in the technology ofsoil and water

conservation as evidenced by the increasing number

of nations that are sending specialists and scientists

to the United States to study the American conservation system under Soil Conservation Service technicians. During 1951, 237 officials, representing 42

different foreign countries, spent time with the Service studying the conservation methods and techniques.

This agency has been mainly responsible for awaking the people of this nation to the seriousness of soil

erosion problems and for making them conscious of

the need for a national conservation program. Not

only farmers, but industrial, educational, and civic

leaders and the public in general are now increasingly

aware of the dangers of continued erosion and soil

wastage and they are expressing their interest in

numerous ways.

The Service has sponsored and helped to bring

about the Soil Conservation districts movement that

has spread to every State of the Nation since 1937.

There were more than 2,400 of the farmer-organized,

farmer-operated districts in the United States and its

possessions by 1952. They cover about one and

a third billion acres and include more than 80 percent

of the farms of the Nation. They are organized

under State laws and are probably the most effective

and democratic means yet devised for administering a

comprehensive land use and soil conservation program

on a Nation-wide basis without resort to State or

Federal regulation. The soil conservation district

is a completely democratic institution, strengthening

local autonomy, and placing responsibility for soil

conservation and decision on the farmers themselves.

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation

This agency of the Department develops and

administers programs providing farmers with insurance against the loss of crop investments which

occur when growing crops^ are damaged or destroyed

by causes beyond the control of those who produce

them. Federal crop insurance operates like other

forms of insurance: the farmer pays a premium for

the protection offered, and collects an indemnity

when his crop is severely damaged or destroyed.

The premium is based on the crop loss experience

of the farms within a county, and the insurance

offered covers losses from all natural hazards to

growing crops—^unfavorable weather, insects, and

plant diseases. This all-risk protection is not available

to farmers from any other source.

Crop insurance programs are now in effect in nearly

a third of the Nation's 3,000 counties. The crops

covered under single crop contracts include wheat,

corn, cotton, tobacco, flax, and dry beans. Multiple

crop insurance, which provides combined protection

on a variety of crops is also available in some counties.

An experimental program on citrus crops is operating

in one county. The crop insurance program is

expanding gradually, and as additional data become

available, new programs covering new crops will be

added to those now in operation. The long-range

goal of this program is the extension of crop insurance

on a sound business basis to all farmers at a reasonable

cost. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation is a

49
nonprofit organization, and premiums collected from

farmers are expected to balance over a period of

years with indemnities paid to insured farmers.

Since premiums paid by farmers are used only to

pay losses, the program represents, in effect, a countymutual plan under which farmers develop their

own program of protection against crop hazards.

Administrative costs of the program are paid by

appropriations, as a service to agriculture.

Organization

Federal Crop Insurance operations include four

administrative levels. A county office makes direct

contact with the farmers in taking applications for

insurance, making acreage reports, collecting premiums, and relaying notices of loss to the State Director's Office which handles the adjustment of

losses, accepts or rejects the applications for insurance, issues policies, and generally supervises and

audits the work of the county offices. The Branch

Office in Chicago is the central "business office" of

the Corporation where the business files are kept,

statistical data are compiled, premiums calculated,

loss claims audited, and indemnities paid. The

"home office" of the Corporation in Washington,

D. C, has general supervision over the work of all

field offices, develops the programs and operating

procedures, establishes the actuarial .basis—coverage

and rate—^for each county, and handles the budget

and accounting on both administrative funds and

capital stock.

Specialized Positions

Specialized positions in this agency include actuary,

agriculturist, agricultural economist, government

accountant, and administrative officer, with duties as

follows:

Administrative Officer.—These positions range in grade

from GS-11 to GS-15 depending upon the responsibilities involved, and in duties from specialized

assignments in fiscal, procedure, audit, personnel, and

sales work to general supervision of all phases of the

program in the field by District Supervisors, State

Directors, Area Directors, and Assistant Managers.

Government Accountant.^Grad^s in this position range

from GS-9 to GS-14. The work includes plannng

and directing the program and administrative

accounting actiyities; :. < formulating fiscal policies;

coordinating fiscal operations; devising, installing, and

maintaining accounting systems; maintaining journals, general ledgers, and other related fiscal records

for program and administrative accounting operations; preparing and installing fiscal procedures and

50

other controls designed to effect uniform and efficient

fiscal operations; analyzing expenses to determine

operating unit costs; examining, certifying, and

scheduling vouchers for payment; maintaining necessary fiscal records, preparing regular and special

financial statements and other fiscal reports.

Agricultural Economist.—The grades for these positions range from GS-7 to GS-14. This work includes

research studies based on a thorough background

knowledge of the commodity, economic, statistical,

and insurance factors involved, for the purpose of

developing new crop insurance programs or discovering the strength and weakness of programs in operation; preparation or supervision of the preparation of

plans for insurance on different commodities; and

appraisal of the economic results of insurance programs. The primary difference between agricultural

economic work in the crop insurance field and other

agricultural fields is the integrating of crop insurance

principles into the economic and statistical factors of

the commodity being insured.

Actuary.—The grades of these positions range from

GS-5 to GS-12, with the GS-5 grades primarily

trainee jobs. This work involves the development of

actuarial techniques to be used in computing appropriate coverages and adequate premium rates for the

crop insurance program. It also involves the collection, compilation, tabulation, and analysis of insurance statistics which are the actuarial basis of the

insurance program. Actuarial techniques must be

developed to utilize fully the insurance statistical data""

available.

Agriculturist.—Th.ç^ grades for these positions range

from GS-5 to GS-14. The work involves the relating

of knowledge on cultural practices, crop hazards, soil

types, production costs, and crop yields in the diff*erent

farming areas of the United States to the risk assumed

under the insurance contract. The agriculturist aids in

formulating and testing statistical techniques required

for computing crop coverages, premium rates, and

premium reserves for the commodities insured. He

assists State and county Production Marketing

Administration Committees in developing the actuarial structures for local county crop insurance

programs. The agriculturist also analyzes provisions

of the insurance contracts, policy, regulations, and

procedures for the development of underwriting data

for fixing coverages and premium rates commensurate with liabilities assumed under terms of the

insurance contracts.

Opportunity for Advancement

Federal crop insurance is an expanding program,

with considerable experimental work being done or
tiow Crop Insurance Works...

^i^^^

O farmer bujjs insurance- ^ T^ys premium

If crop is lost - <^ farmer is paid indemnity

51
being planned to extend it to additional crops and to

areas not now covered. Growth of the program would

quite naturally provide expanding job opportunities,

opening the way for individuals of ability and

experience to grow with the program.

Since crop insurance is a relatively new field of

agricultural work, there is considerable opportunity

for advancement by employees who display unusual

aptitude for meeting the administrative or program

problems which an expanding, developing activity

such as this must face.

Activities

Real progress has been made by this agency toward

the development of a sound crop insurance program.

It has pioneered in an uncharted field, with only the

failures of private companies in short-lived ventures

into the all-risk crop insurance field available as

background when Federal Crop Insurance operations

were started in 1939 with wheat insurance.

Valuable experience has been obtained that has

resulted in crop insurance policies which offer protection of the investment in a crop instead of protection

of both the investment and a profit as provided in

most of the contracts prior to 1948.

Major refinements of the program and the actuarial

basis for each insured commodity have resulted from

experience gained sincewheat was first insured in 1939.

In some years heavy losses have resulted while in

other years losses have been moderate and premium

reserves have accumulated. Since the adoption in

1948 of the more conservative approach to some of the

basic problems of insurance on growing crops, the

combined national results have been much more

satisfactory than in earlier years with premiums for

the 1948-51 period exceeding indemnities by approximately $2,000,000.

Through the thousands of indemnities paid annually

to farmers who have sufi'ered severe crop losses, the

program has eased the shock of crop loss for individual

farmers, business communities, and the national

economy. Crop insurance has kept many farmers

from being driven out of business by crop failures

that struck when their finances were at "low ebb" and

many others from suffering severe financial reverses

due to crop losses.

List of Additional Positions in the Department

Some of the positions not des<M:bèd in thê^^^ai^e-ÉëMbm^ ö

Adjustor, loss

Biological aid

Bookkeeper

Bookkeeping machine operator

Botanist

Budget clerk

Cartographer

Cereal technologist

Civil engineer

Commodity exchange supervisor

Commodity futures analyst

Commodity marketing specialist

Dairying extension specialist

Draftsman

Duplicating machine operator

Editor of periodicals

Ecologist '

Employee relations officer

Extension educationist

Extension food preservation specialist

Farm ownership specialist

Fire control aid

Fire prevention aid

Fiscal analyst

Fisheries research biologist

Foreign supply program liaison officer

Glass blower

Household equipment specialist

Housing specialist

Hydrologist

Illustrator (scientific)

Instrument maker

Legislative reference assistant

Market news reporter

Meat technologist

Microanalyst

Microbiologist

Mycologist

Nutritionist

Passenger rate clerk

Payroll clerk

Personnel technician

Pharmacologist

Photogrammetric engineer

Photographic chemist

Pier inspector

Plant physiologist

Printer

Procedure analyst

Procurement analyst

Project field auditor

Purchasing ofíicer

Range expert

Rural sociologist

Seed technologist

Social science analyst

Statistical assistant

Sugar technologist

Tobacco inspector

Transportation specialist

Warehouse examiner

Water facilities specialist

Wool technologist

52

-U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1952