Date: 1985-07-11
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 1383. the Agricultural Productivity Act of 1985. a bill to establish a research program to collect and analyze data from research projects over a 5year period on the effects of a transition from energyintensive farming practices to systems that use organictype farming methods. that is. sodbased crop rotations. use of crop residues and organic waste. conservation tillage and irrigation. and nonchemical methods of weed and pest control to reduce production costs. conserve water and energy. and control erosion. The Secretary of Agriculture. through the Federal Extension Service .and the cooperative extension services of the States. would take the necessary steps to ensure that farmers are aware of these projects and that they are open for observation. Congress would be authorized to appropriate such sums as necessary to carry out the program. and such funds would remain available until expended. Mr. Chairman. to make sure that agriculture can meet the Nations needs in future years. we must foster highly productive and efficient agricultural systems that conserve our soils and lessen our dependence on limited reserves of energy and fuels. This means we need a well planned and balanced development program. implemented through expanded agricultural research and extension efforts. to help farmers in key areas through demonstratioi projects and the dissemination of information. In the past. Mr. Chairman. Congress and experts at the Department of Agriculture have recommended new research of this kind. In the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977. Congress directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate and analyze the feasibility and practicability of using organic wastes such as manures. crop residues. and sewage sludge to improve soil fertility on American farms. I would like to point out. Mr. Chairman. that Congress again expressed Its opinion on these Issues in the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981. The findings of th6 National Research. Extension. and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 were amended by the 1981 act to state that an expanded program of soil and water conservation research was needed and that a key objective of this research was establishing integrated multidisciplinary organic farming research projects designed to foster the implementation of the major recommendations of the Department -of Agriculture Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming. July 1980. The USDAs Agricultural Research Service 6year plan. released in January 1983. advocated developing farming systems "characterized by less costly methods and by technologies that are safe. sustainable. and environmentally sound." The plan -further recommended innovative research "to reduce farm production costs while maintaining a high level of sustainable productivity through the development of efficient and diversified crop- and animalproduction systems." and "to -insure the conservation of our natural resources." In spite of these -recommendations. Mr. -Chairman. -this type of research program has yet to be devised or implemented by the Department. H.R. 1383. the Agricultural Productivity Act of 1985. would remedy this problem by establishing a research -and extension program at USDA -consistent with the foregoing recommendations. I believe the Agricultural Productivity Act merits the support of Congress. and I ask all Members to join me In supporting enactmentof H.R. 1383. Mr. Chairman. I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the legislation. the -gentleman -from Oregon .