Good morning. Were going to order. Over two years ago, we kicked off the 2018 farmville, and the whole process was by holding that hearing at Kansas City University. If humans later, we held a hearing in this room. We are from the United States department of agriculture officials. We heard about a Critical Role in Agriculture Researchers play throughout our countrys history. We also heard about the Research Priorities for a 2018 farmville. The knees are certainly great. Every day our producers are counter extreme weather just to name a few things. There are challenges with right to do so with minimal federal resources in an aging infrastructure. The United States produces the safest most affordable food in the world. Ever and in crafting the agriculture and provement act of 2019, Ranking Member deborah safford and myself and i along with members of this committee recognize that we have to continue to build on the strong history of Agriculture Research in the United States. An enactment of the bill, the primary department of agriculture, Research Education where we authorize, including Agriculture Research and the National Institute of food and agriculture. I invite you to stay informed the farms including hetrick and smith lever, were extended and competitive Grant Programs are included to support research facilities. Provisions were included to bring equity to 1890 and 94 institutions, the farming Ranch Assistance Network was reauthorized and strengthened to support the Mental Health of farmers and individuals facing highly stressful working conditions. New authorities were established including Agriculture Advanced Research and development authority. Thats a corner. It was modeled after authorities and other agencies including darla and barnett which allows the usda to carry out advanced research and development of qualified products. Technologies and research tools. During the farmville process, budgets were tight. Many difficult choices were made in an effort to negotiate a bill that provide certainty and predictability. Notably the Research Title was one of the few and the farmville to receive an increase in inventory funding over the life of the bill. In fact it includes nearly 800 million in mandatory funding over five years for Research Programs. That is a big investment. A needed investment. I am very proud of the bipartisan effort to support Agriculture Research and agriculture improve an act of 2018 and i know my Ranking Member shares their pride. This morning i look forward to hearing an update from the department about the invitation about these updated and new provisions. Im also interested to hear about the status of other efforts that we related to Research Education. Economics, thats a remission area. Including the relocation of the Economic Research service to the kansas city region. My home state of kansas, hamza strong history of Agriculture Research including the Kansas City University and the national bio and aggregate test facility. They are currently under construction. Kansas city and on the way out to manhattan. The relocation of this regent will allow these agencies to access the many existing resources and benefits of the region. Research and analysis are essential to the work that the department does for producers, and for the agriculture of economy. With any significant structural change, it is vital, that we ensure the Research Missions remained intact. And it is supported and strengthened for this nations growers. We need to ensure that the department continues to produce quality analytic reports without delay during this transition. From the onset of farmville process, Agriculture Research was something every member could unite behind and support. This is true regardless of what state each member hails from or what crops are grown there. This bipartisan buy support for Agriculture Research, will continue. In his key as we seek to keep working together to strengthen the Us Agriculture. I recognize the distinguished Ranking Members and offer her remarks. See if i think you this very important hearing. Before giving my open remarking i want to put into the record it with your agreement and testimony from a number of groups and individuals regarding the real locations of eras. This includes statements from organizations representing researchers, agricultural economists, and former usda researchers from both republican and democratic administrations. I would ask permission. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for the hearing as i indicated i share the chairmans commitments whether its then really a source of supply for us in terms of support for not only traditional your goals are at the new foundation that we have now had in place for two farm bills. We Work Together on. Doctor hutchins, welcome back and thank you for being here. Agriculture research has been at the heart of the department of agriculture since its beginning and you have a very important responsibility at a very challenging time. In my judgment. In 1862, president lincoln, created the usda with the mission to bulkier propagate and distribute agriculture knowledge. That Strong Foundation created our modern system of landgrant universities and universities including mr. Cameron of Michigan State and kansas state. And also lead to breakthroughs that have made farmers more productive and more profitable, and more resilient. The development of the first hybrid corn seeds have resulted in better yields in many parts of crops. Extension specialists help farmers utilize Crop Rotation to replenish soil after deductible. Usda studies have made sweet more resilient to drought and disease develop more to trishas right varieties and improved vaccines. To prevent footandmouth disease. Even our farm. A wide variety of Interesting ResearchImportant Research. It is an enhanced all life for americans improving the disposable diaper. The military. Resistant to mosquitoes and developing better turf for nfl fields so my detroit Kansas City Chiefs without turning up the grass. Even with these great innovations, [laughter] is my opening statement. [laughter] even with these great innovations, we consistently hear we need more research. And abroad, array of research. Not los. Thats why the bipartisan 2018 farmville, increase funding for usda Research Efforts and animal disease. And specialty crops, urban agriculture, organics, and expanded public and private partnership for food and Agriculture Research. And personally, the bipartisan commitment to Agriculture Research which started number 150 years ago, is now at risk. I am deeply concerned that this administration is undermining the foundation of the usda Scientific Research mission. The administrations haphazard decision to relocate to critically Important Research institutions, the Economic Research service and the National Institute of food and agriculture, it will affect real people who rely on the Usda Services and amorites capacity to support farmers families and Rural Communities for years to come. And for what question were its still unclear to me a problem the usda is going to solve with this move. But we can see the problems and the risks related. To this move. The administrations requiring to uproot their families and move by september 30th, even though they have it secured a Permanent Office space. Their questions about their authority and budget to the relocation, according to the usda at least 63 percent of employees directed to move will leave instead of relocating. 63 percent. Or more. Thats on top of extremely high current vacancy rates of these agencies. Rebuilding an entire workforce will take time in the interim these agencies will not have the capacity to do their important work. Usda will also lose replaceable expertise your replaceable expertise. For example usda is moving is probably, an army veteran originating from india to his work reports is critical to exporting expanding export markets. Supporting transparent Commodity Prices and strengthening world economies. Usda is losing Jeffrey Steiner one of the nations leading experts on hemp research. Which we are doing a hearing on this as we move forward. The leading expert on amp research whose knowledge wouldve helped develop new markets for him which was legalized in the farmville. Usda is losing tim steinberg, whose Economic Research supports rural manufacturing and business innovation. His critical work on the competitiveness of our allamerica was shutdown on september 30th, because no one else in the department is qualified to work with this confidential highly sensitive data. There are hundreds of more stories like these. The knowledge that we are trolling away in the expertise we are throwing away with this move. Its no wonder that leaving siding says that grant universities and officials from both sides of the aisle stand and competition to this move. The administration could keep these experts from leaving by giving them employees the flexibility to continue the work here until at least a Permanent Location is ready. The administration could extend the deadline for researchers to decide whether they would leave their job or relocate themselves in their families to a new city or over a thousand miles away. Instead the administration is forcing out its employed with rushed politically calculated ultimatums designed to be real important agriCultural Research. With the budget proposals that have cut usda by 50 percent prickle rejected on both sides of the aisle but im concerned this is an attempt to go about congress and to carry out those reductions and capacities. It is clear to me this is not a relocation but a demolition failed attempt to bypass the administration so stop to salvage this decision it hurts far more than usda employees of this is not stop farmers and families in Rural Communities that we suffer in the long word run prickle thank you mister chairman. We have oats at 11 30 a. M. Doctor Scott Hutchins is a deputy secretary at the department of agriculture prior to working at the department and most recently as a global Research Development leader of agro science receiving his bachelors degree on entomology from harvard and a masters and his doctorate from iowa state. He last testified in this room in november after nominated to serve as the undersecretary for Research Education and economics and it was reported in and was voted a second time welcome back to the committee we look forward to your testimony please proceeds i thank you good morning chairman robertson Ranking Member and members of the committee thank you for the opportunity to discuss the provisions of the 2018 farm bill. Research education usda is an Incredible Team and powerful force for agriculture comprised of four agencies agricultural Research ServiceEconomic ResearchService Statistics service i will give updates on each of the updates on current topics. Ars under the leadership is the primary Research Agency of usda it has a long track record of scientific breakthroughs and also one of the two agencies responsible for the standup of management acro bio defense impasse in kansas just recently was pleased to cosign a memorandum of agreement with the department of Homeland Security to enable the transfer to the usda fargo and those that are a trusted source of high quality and objective Economic Research to enhance public and private decisionmaking recent reports of highlighted trends of antibiotics is slow of retail food prices nation of food loss at the farm level and has provided study showing the impact agriculture has on the larger economy making shifts on productivity and public versus private r d sector investments. And a. S. Has timely accurate and useful statistics to Us Agriculture to have hundreds of surveys each year through the entire agriculture community. Earlier this year we were proud to have the opportunity to provide the most visible report of the census of agriculture. National institute of food and agriculture is the Research Agency providing partnership and leadership and addressing the National Priorities of transformer practices. Primarily does this new formula and with the support of Workforce Development and agriculture including four h and in 2018 it funded programs 104,000 with Curriculum Development through four h nifa has a new generation of community leaders. The office of chief scientist has supporting all usda through the Science Council facilitating with that important function and oversight of science and integrity. With regard to the 2018 farm bill implementation first let me congratulate this committee and in particular chairman robertson the Ranking Member for the positive bill in support of Us Agriculture. We held a special listening session to begin the process of the farm bill implementation with all leadership present. While each agencies are included in the farm bill, the vast majority of those provisions contained i am pleased to report that key expectations of the legislation funded and aggressively implementing across the department. With regards to these agencies secretary perdue announced we will relocate to the kansas city region after a long process that is a vibrant urban center in the heartland growing agriculture and a home to the workforce already. The ability to attract top talent with numerous agricultural constituents will enhance the mission of these agencies and longterm. Usda is fully committed to see them thrive as missioncritical agencies and in fact welcoming new employees on monday so thank you for the opportunity to be here today i respect the role this committee plays in the mission and look forward to answering your questions prickle thank you for the unwavering bipartisan support this committee has only shown for the committed one Critical Research on behalf of Us Agriculture its an honor to support usda mission to do right and feed everyone. I be happy to answer your questions and mckay want to remind everybody time is very limited today we have oats at 11 30 a. M. But if we are still here in session and we will break maybe 14 minutes. And i will enforce the five minute rule. I think i kept mine under five. [laughter] i want to encourage people to be as brief as they can i know there is a lot of concern with regards to the relocation issue i think the distinguished member you have the support for questions to be submitted for the record i know the department will respond i will make sure that. Doctor, the 2018 farm bill was truly a bipartisan collaboration to members of the committee as one example is the new advanced Research Development authority for we have worked closely with this department to ensure innovation with private entities and development solutions. And then to utilize this new authority to complement your question and you find that necessary. Thank you for the question a truly unique opportunity and agriculture are much like darpa to have that partnering with unique ways to allow usda and ag research to stay on the cutting edge with technology. We would envision to operate similarly in these agencies and we would love to collaborate to see how they could be incorporated if that potential collaboration word transpire between public and private sector. Unfortunately at this point in time that we stand ready and excited to participate as you have envisioned it and the broader point the us with that bag Innovation Strategy not just the capability so we can benefit from the total integration to stay ahead of the challenges that we face including Climate Change issues along these lines had demonstrated the private sector enforces three times so it is important for agriculture in this way to make sure we get the most bang for the buck from our investments and were able to have. With the Economic Research service to provide valuable research and those stakeholders in which they rely on and provide valuable Data Research and the commodity cost and returns which we are leading on the last report can you assure me doctor that these critical reports will not be delayed. And more so we will have more opportunity to explant expand through considerable cost savings and then to make this with our desire to make this do allow this agency to grow and be sustainable in the long term its an important aspect. With regard to my role with this project i was with the Committee Last time i was asked about topics and indicated that the goals the secretary had were the right goals and i still believe that. There are two key primary focus it is a difficult move that we do need to support them in the number of ways with those very aspects of things and supporting them in every way possible and those that but to ensure that continuity of mission and i give my assurances to the secretary im not trying to sugarcoat the difficulty that we are actively working with the office of the secretary and those that can that the economist so we have every intention and i do give you my insurance assurance we will maintain such. Thank you doctor and i realize you were not here so now this is in your lap you are in charge it is incredibly important those decisions and how they are made that is the focus in those communities and thats a huge problem according to the usda of those employees instead of moving usda will fire employees that dont relocate by september 30t. With those hiring efforts have resulted with four employees ready to start in kansas city next week. Four of them. The Government Services agency said Permanent Office space wont be ready for one year. So what is the rush . Why is usda so fixated to move or fire everybody by septembe s . Through the communication process we have had with the employees from the earliest days, i have personally participated monthly and sometimes even weekly at the present time we are communicating weakly through newsletters and communication mechanisms. And representing those aspects but what the employees have told us loud and clear. It was announced last august and now it is july we just want to know when and where. Give us a date and location we went for a long process open through communication through your staff to identify that and we are staying true to the plan we provided a city which is fantastic. Kansas city has been so opening and welcoming to the opportunities we have. I wont try to sell the city i am sure somebody else can do that better but. If i might interrupt as michigan i love kansas is not kansas city but june 13 they knew they were going to kansas city so that is a little over one month. That is my concern so to just add to that i understand secretary do had a conversation that said he would consider employees doing telework during the transition and do you agree to let current employees work from their Current Location and tell the permanent facility is ready in kansas city . And by the way there is still a lot of vacant space here in dc with a can work during that transition are you willing to do that . Make through the communication process every time we indicated once a city is identified it would be a 30 day decision. So we stayed true to that actually we provided 32. The second point is that those are all demands had come from the union so that will be part of the negotiation process with the two agencies so that process begins tomorrow. With the union with the agency. So tomorrow is the first wreck. I will not because their process is with them but tomorrow is when the process begins. Moving through here timewise i assume you are as concerned about unnecessary brain drain was 63 percent have said they will not be moving in basically 547 employees 30 days to decide if they would move halfway across the country and take their families. So now i understand there is enough space for 270 employees in kansas city. Recent press reports indicated including a new article suggesting usda has taken steps to suppress relief of the agencies work related to Climate Change and proud of the fact the committee did a thoughtful Senate Hearing now i am changing how congress can be Going Forward which is critical. And i appreciate the response although senior Trump Officials with the agencywide Climate Science plan so at this point in terms of publicizing the work of agency were on researchers will you provide this committee all studies related to Climate Change and published after january 1st, 21st, 2017. May i clarify are you talking about the Research Studies . Like all the Research Studies everything usda has them with public money that there is a lot of work that has been done. And with that ramp rate from that 216964 reports with two b have over 1200. And to focus primarily of adaptation with expansive and robust. And then to design or implement and then no problem being released to the public because it signals very clearly all the work that has been done at all the work in the document is being done that is our guidepost to develop the research program. We have limited time today. We are pressed for time. Questions for the record will be available and the chair will have to enforce the five minute rule. We have a lot of concern within to invest in ag research and arkansas for industries as a leader in research and the farm bill there were several provisions regarding the 1980s institutions do you have implementation of those provisions . Yes sir number were scholarship programs where the usda showed with bipartisan support how the program was put forth the 1890 institutions overall are highly supported by the secretary in the department and all provisions within that are being implemented with speed and rigor to ensure the intent of this committee is filled. I think we can speak for the committee this is important if you need any help please let us know parker thinking mister chairman i yelled back on time. That helps. Gated good to see you submit good to see you to. [laughter] i tried to keep an eye on you. I am concerned i remember in the Previous Administration they kept reorganizing and reorganizing and reorganizing so they never had to do anything and then a republican senator called them out on that. But i look at the relocation i dont know if it has any merit or justification but it undermines the mission of both agencies and thats an understatement it has already done a lot with the Scientific Research capacity and many employees within these agencies will tell you honestly to undermine the research capacity. Usda failed to submit within the 2020 budget for justification the cost and benefits as well as a Detailed Analysis those are required as vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee i am well required aware they are required by congress for the appropriations bill fy 19 that is the requirement usda totally ignored and violated park on the contrary they requested 15 15. 5 billion for your relocation at the same time youre proposing a 26 milliondollar cut in the agency. Usda sent the Appropriations Committee program request just six days prior to publishing the intent in the federal register that violates the 30 days that you dont even care what the law is. Congress is irrelevant including the appropriators and authorizers. So let me ask you insofar that you are ignoring congressional mandates yes or no, will you submit to the committees of jurisdiction all analysis related to relocation including a full report by ernst young that the costbenefit analysis released last month is based . Yes or no. Yes sir we have released and published and made public the costbenefit analysis prepared by ernst young the costbenefit analysis prepared by ernst young what was conducted prior to the 2018 announcement to relocate the agencies . Senator i did not join so i dont know what was prepared. Will you find the costbenefit analysis conducted prior and supply it to this committee . I will inquire with the secretary. I will do all you dont know . I will do my best to provide you what is available. If all was provided . Did you give us all that was provided or a summary . We provided all that exist. All that exist . The summary captured. Then it is a summary you did not give all. We did provide it all and in the summer it referenced all the data and the information that went into it so that is the costbenefit analysis. All that data is available to the committee . Yes sir. So we should be able to get your prior also. I will inquire on your behal behalf. If congress is not provided relocations for fy 20 for central relocation will usda follow the law as enacted by congress . From my standpoint always follows the law and has deep respect and how it is created implemented. Wisely put because you will have to. Lastly that is the 2019 enacted appropriations bill calling for the what has usda done to implement these in the fy 19 and the landgrant institution to establish that program. Yes sir. And the agriculture appropriations included language including the secretory the secretary and at present we are looking at how to incorporate that. I might also add i had the honor to address the Group Earlier this year their mission and focuses tremendous. I agree. What they do is what we want to encourage well make every effort that the pilot is successful and i thank you mister chairman its great to be here with you. Youre only 40 seconds over time its a grave concert because it didnt give me time to congratulate you on your 16000 vote on the floor of the senate i will tell you my private how may times they voted with you. [laughter] but on the farm bill we have always voted together. Thats correct. Thinking mister chairman to acknowledge the comments those comments are valid that i would also cite a few things i am glad we are relocating to kansas city to the middle of the farm belt i am a farmer, a tree farmer and i think i am involved with a lot of farmers and it makes sense to be in the middle of the bread basket when it comes to the talent pool i believe there is more that specialize in agriculture in that area as well and what is normally not talked about would be can we lower the cost of operations in a place like that and im almost certain it will be a lower cost to do business in kansas city than washington dc. Looking forward for you to carry out this smooth transition which can be done but i want to get to the question of what your agency is all about with african swine fever and foot and mouth disease, all examples of current threats to global agriculture. I am sure there are others as well. Where are you at on diseases like that . Are you making headway or being overwhelmed that seem to crop up every year . Thank you for the question. The answer is we are making headway and as an entomologist i am familiar with evasive species of those topics. We are making headway on a number of those but there will always be more so there is always a risk and we always have new challenges growers every year pay some new source challenger outbreak but i can tell you with confidence and with an ifa looking at one dish working to the great land grants are doing more for ag science and making tremendous efforts when you combine that with the system we have it allows us to get that research and those discoveries into the hands of farmers to put them out quickly enough to respond and minimize any losses. As a tree farmer, does forestry which indiana has twice the Financial Impact of crops and im sure people dont understand that and it may buy one vary by state the Emerald Ash Borer and the japanese beetle and most that have arisen in the last ten or 15 years some like the japanese bush honeysuckle is so prevalent that most dont even know its not native. Are we spending as much time and effort they are way and in many states forestry has more impact than agriculture in the sense of crops . Are we putting resources to that as well . The Forest Service which is not part of this has its own R D Organization focusing specifically on those diseases associated with forestry but we work closely together. With that control methods with the Emerald Ash Borer which has cost me trees myself that is collaborative and we use within the Leadership Team we use the Forest Service so we do all we can to coordinate and we do include the forest ecosystems as part of the challenge. Good luck in your transition to kansas city. Senator klobuchar. Thank you very much mister chairman virchow i have already expressed my concern regarding the relocation. Do you truly believe you will not lose significant expertise in areas of research and Cultural Research with this mov move . Like i never suggested we would not lose expertise. I have been part of a major move in the past with mergers they are never easy and there is always a large attrition. There are good personal reasons people make choices. In this particular situation every employee has been offered a job i have never been through one of these for there has been no workforce reduction so that opportunity is they are part of the numbers that came were not unexpected. We expect that for this type of move we will be working desperately and deliberately to make sure has requested that we do not drop the ball on the mission in the short term but keep an eye on the long term i want us to keep an eye on the next version of that expertise and how we build on that and take the agencies to the next level and the secretary has committed to reinvest these 300 million savings over the first piece. To grow the agencies and expand the research capability. But with Climate Change in Climate Science research it is important last month i wrote to the secretary with concerns about a new report that detailed the suppression of Scientific Study conducted by the agricultural Research Service to the effect of Climate Change and this hat is having the flooding with the broken levees in the midwest and the farmers that can no longer produce because their cropland is underwater were having huge problems right now in minnesota can you elaborate how the department determines which projects are publicized . We have had an issue with Climate Research comes out late friday afternoon where maybe people will not notice it i think we should be highlighting this looking at solutions can you talk about how the department determines which type of Research Projects are publicized . Thank you for the question i can provide you with the overview first of all. With 5000 publications out of ars alone, we need to look which ones set the stage. 450 Research Publications just in the climate area not to count those 1000 that are sponsors we are looking for the standard that says is there something new and novel is it relevant to agriculture and something we could translate to reduce the practice . I have returned a response to your later a letter i dont know if you have seen that but what it is in question was specifically focused on rice variety in china and japan not meeting the standard of the us rice growers but focused on the concept of nutrition. There were 18 varieties and two of those clearly showed a reduction two of them showed an increase and 16 had no change. We look at that and say that is not as conclusive with the emotion suggested it has nothing to do with Climate Change but the promotion did not meet the standard. There will be many other studies we will promote that meet the standards. I just know there have been a number of these studies that have been deepsixed and i think as a whole the administration has been dealing with Climate Change and we are losing time by not dealing with it. Questions were asked about animal and plant diseases by work to include several animal disease provisions in the 2018 farmville how are you better delivering to these threats . One of the outcomes of a shifting or warmer climate there will be an additional increase or a range change of these areas in a key area of focus is a deep understanding of the tactics that are practical and useful shortterm and longterm some of them on an annual basis some dealing with biological control but rest assured it is a primary focus for ars to give the growers to manage their pest. We will have more questions for the record. Mister chairman virchow welcome doctor hutchins the senator brought up about diseases i would like to zero in on something that affects port one pork producers in africa like the swine fever coming to the United States can you give update specifically on that disease and those Research Methods to detect african swine fever . And the department of Homeland Security asked you to do what you are doing to keep it out of the country. Thank you for the question. The entry of that horrible diseases under the purview of others to make sure they have intercepted a number of shipments that should not be coming in because they could be potentially contaminated. But with your point with regard to research it is a key priority to develop in partnership with the private sector to make sure our farmers dont have to deal with what the large part of the world is dealing with today it is a primary focus that conflation that referenced earlier has to be front and center and the ability to do that work in a number of areas. It is an excellent example how one disease can radically change and alter a significant commodity such as the pork producers rely on 2 billion. My next question is a provision to the farm bill calling for the development of genomes Research Programs and the intent is to better understand how plant and animals interact with particular environments in order to stabilize the increase of our yields. Can you give an update to implement the project . Senator that is a fantastic opportunity mentioning plants and animals and the microbes to use technology in that way will be at the core with the micro biome so from our standpoint we are looking to understand how that links together with the ability to protect performance and that is critical to understanding how plants and animals are responding to climate to authorize 40 million for the program but no discretionary funding has been appropriated to this effort. We would love to incorporate that within our Research Programs and i would add with this capability and i want to use this as another example how we partner with the private sector to make larger advances than on our own. I will submit two questions and i yelled back. Chairman grassley put pressure on all of us so i have to comply. Thank you mister chairman i want to start with the story of the federal employees often in this town government workers are the subject of denigration. We dont talk about their work enough so i want to give you and example as a predicate for my question. This is the story of Catherine Greene who is a senior agricultural economist at the Economic Research service as ers and has been there more than 30 years. In the 1980s she initiated the first outlook reporting on organic production and since then has initiated dozens of projects collaborating across every Single Agency to provide publicly available data and Research Information to us producers interested in organic production because she is unable to relocate to kansas city and further three of the young young economist she has trained over several years have resigned rather than be relocated. She expects most of the Institutional Knowledge on organic agriculture will be lost when she is forced to retire. Sometimes we dont put a premium or Pay Attention to the fact in one agency you can have thousands of years of combined expertise and experience. I have two questions on the subject. Line is about attrition rates and loss capacity for the first is what is the expected attrition rate for employees working on organic agriculture and ers . And how do you anticipate the loss capacity of employees like Catherine Greene who spent 30 years developing expertise to impact to the agencys ability to provide accurate and timely data . First, with regard to catherine we would love for catherine to join us if we would we have offered roles to everyone in those two agencies and would be delighted to have her take that opportunity. With regard to the organic ag and those capabilities, i would have to get back to you. There are dozens of areas and i do not have right in front of me today the specifics for that but i would commit to do that area as you have requested. For that specific area and overall capacity standpoint we have a strategy that allows us to take a number of shortterm and longterm aspects we have a very number impressive for a hiring plan as indicated in the opening remarks six new employee start on monday virchow we also will be looking at several employees who cannot move for personal reasons have approached us to see can we work after this date on a contractual capacity and universities have contacted us we can support you. A lot of groups are starting to rally together to make sure we do this and the commitment i have made to this committee we will put all of those pieces together. We will not drop the ball and we will build them for the future. The point i make im just talking about organic production which is one part of the responsibility of usda. We want to make sure that those organic producers and farmers have accurate and timely data it stands to reason with a group of people that have accumulated all this experience that the high likelihood there will be a drop off of that information so if you can give us that answer we appreciate it. And second was the attrition rate for those working what is the expected attrition rate for those working with ers make again i dont have that for the organic aspect i can get that back to you. I will submit a second question for the record. I thank you the distinguished senator. Thank you mister chairman into the Ranking Member for a Job Well Done for the 2018 farm bill and on that research in particular with our commitment to the resources one of the reasons the United States has remained a Global Leader of Ag Production but the Important Research, the ars is our public universities and youre doing a great job there. First of all thank you for appearing before this committee today you have done a fantastic job. Cwd it is a fatal disease affecting White Tail Deer and other members of the deer family that is very important in mississippi there still a lot to learn about the cause and the management control for quit has made its way to mississippi and im really concerned of the impact it could have because if we have a 1 billiondollar industry of deer hunting in a large area of our state has been flooded , more than 500,000 acres for more than six months it can find the deer to a very small area of the levees which obviously would be facilitating the spread of chronic waste disease so with a 2018 farm bill list this as a High Priority Research and Extension Initiative for a very good reason. The landgrant University SaysMississippi State university that we partner with with those Research Programs with scientific expertise for cwd rehab positions they are but with the implementation of the 2018 farm bill will you submit that cwd is treated as a high priority and extension and to work as you have done such a great job with the landgrant university for those that are wellpositioned to join the effort of the Research Programs of cwd. Thank you for the question the last time i was with the committee were in the process of winning your election. Nice to see you and somebody from Mississippi State. It was a great place to go. Chronic waste disease was added to the Extension Initiative in the farm bill. There is no funding but we are gearing up to support the efforts prick of the issues with chronic wasting disease are very challenging technically that we can overcome those there has been us nifa study at iowa state so the intubation is two to four years but if we have Rapid Testing regime we can have a Significant Impact ars is is looking at the pathology and transmission aspects and tse that affects also moves so it is a significant disease and a challenge that we want to contribute to the solution and in partnership with the landgrant. Thank you very much. Thank you senator. Thank you mister chairman i will keep it moving along but with a producer of canola and with nifa funding we dont see research for canola is that eligible for the program and can use one submit a timeline for completion . I am aware of the laboratories and involvement i would need to get back to you with the specifics on that question and i would be happy to do that. Good we want to work with you to make sure that research is included also in the sugarbeet area in Research Funding can you comment . Or should we follow up . I can follow up with details but Sugarbeet Research is a high priority and we are actively engaged within ars. What about chronic wasting disease . We just spoke about that with mississippi it is more broad but it is a priority we are working on the Research Efforts to partner to address that it is a challenging disease make us wheat and Barley Initiative . That initiative is on track those that transferred a number for that resistance for wheat using multiple back and i have an update on that i would be happy to give you as much detail from the experts as you desire. We look forward to working with you i am a huge fan of ag research it is unbelievable through ars and nifa and we are very committed to funding that working with you on these initiatives. We are in a renaissance. Right now so we look forward to be a part of the next era to be the most competitive. Now out of deference to our at one outstanding chairman i defer to the chairman to make that concludes a hearing today and we ask if any additional questions you may have for the record to be by 5 00 p. M. Next thursday as july 25th i want to emphasize another point that employees had until july 15 to make a decision they do have until september 30h to report to the new location to take advantage of that there is a huge welcoming committee they would visit. Thank you. [inaudible conversations]. Hello, im David Rubenstein at the book festival and its open to all people in the United States for anyone who wants to come is in washington on Labor Day Weekend at the Washington Convention center. However, if you cannot make it everyone cant be in washington dc at this time please read about this and learn about this to book tv which is on cspan2. They will do extensive coverage of the National Book festival and as always do a terrific job of letting you know whats on even if you cant be there. Tonight at 9 30 p. M. Eastern on cspan conversation among former government officials about potential of representative democracy. Speakers include former white house advisor karl rove, former House Majority eric can tour and george allen of virginia. For 40 years cspan has been providing america unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, Supreme Court and Public Policy events from washington dc and around the country. Make up your own mind. Created by cable in 1979 cspan is brought to you by your local or satellite provider. Cspan, your unfiltered view of government. So, kate fazzini about what do armenian teenager, chinese dishwasher and a russian young man from vladivostok raised by an alcoholic legal mother have in common . So,