Priorities for the 2018 farm bill. The needs are certainly great. Every day our producers encounter extreme and unpredictable weather and pests to name a few. Researches and institutions tasked with these challenges are directed to do so with minimal federal resources and an aging infrastructure. Crafting the agriculture improvement act of and i along with members of this committee recognized that we had to continue to build on the strong history of Agriculture Research in the United States. With the enactment of the bill, the primary department of Agriculture Research education authorities were reauthorize z including the Agriculture Research and the National Institute of food and agriculture. Funds including the hatch act and the smith lever mccann tis sten nis and evans allen were extended and competitive Grant Programs were included to support Research Facilities and equipment improvements. Provisions were included to bring incompetent to 1890 and 1994 institutions. The farm and 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 and including the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority thats agarda. It was modeled after authorities at other agencies which allows the usda to carry out advanced research and development of qualified products, technologies, and research tools. During the farm bill process, budgets were tight and many difficult choices were made in an effort to negotiate a bill that provides certainty and predictability. Notably, the Research Title was one of the few in the farm bill to receive an increase in mandatory funding over the life of the bill. In fact, it included 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 the agriculture improvement act of 2018, and i know my Ranking Members shares that pride. This morning i look forward to hearing an update from the department about the implementation of these updated and new provisions. I am also interested to hear about the status of other efforts related to Research Education, economics thats the remission including the relocation of the Economic Research service ers to the kansas city region. My home state of kansas has a strong history of Agriculture Research including the kansas state university, the national bio and agra defense facility under construction and the broader Animal Health corridor stretching from columbia, missouri, to kansas city on the way out to manhattan. The relocation of ers would 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 economy. With any significant structural change, it is vital that we ensure the Research Missions remain intact and is supported and strengthened for this nations growers. For instance, we need to ensure that the department continues to produce quality analytic reports without delay. 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 by cam ral support for Agriculture Research will continue and is key as we county to Work Together to strengthen u. S. Agriculture. I recognize the distinguished Ranking Member. Thank you very much mr. Chairman, and thank you very much for holding what is a very important hearing. Before giving my opening remarks, i want to put into the record with your agreement testimony from a number of groups and individuals regarding the relocations of ers and nifa. This includes statements from organizations representing researchers, agricultural economists, and former usda researchers from both republican and democratic administrations. I would ask submission. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for the hearing as i indicated and i share the chairmans commitment to what has been really a source of pride for us in terms of support for not only traditional agriculture but the new foundation that we have now had in place for two farm bills that we worked together on and dr. 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 pro cure, propagate and distribute agricultural knowledge. That Strong Foundation created our modern system of land grant universities, including Michigan State and kansas state. It has also led to breakthroughs that have made our farmers more productive, more profitable and more resilient. The development of the first hybrid corn seeds have resulted in better yields in many types of crops. Extension specialists help farmers utilize Crop Rotation to replenish soil after the dust bowl. Usda studies have made wheat more resilient to drought and disease, developed more nutritious rice varieties and improved vaccines to prevent foot and mouth disease. Even off the farm, a wide variety of interesting research, Important Research. Ag research has enhanced the life for all americans improving the disposable diaper, making the u. S. Military uniforms resistant to mosquitos, and developing better turf for nfl fields so that my Detroit Lions can tear up the chairmans Kansas City Chiefs without tearing up the grass. Even with these great innovations, its my Opening Statement mr. Chairman. Even with these great innovations, we consistently hear we need more research and a broad array of research, not less. Thats why the bipartisan 2018 farm bill increased funding for usda Research Efforts and animal disease and specialty crops, urban agriculture, organics and expanded public, private partnership in the foundation for food and Agricultural Research. Unfortuna unfortunately unfortunately, the bipartisan commitment to Agricultural Research which started over 150 years ago is now at risk. I am deeply concerned that this administration is undermining the foundation of the usdas Scientific Research mission. The administrations haphazard decision to relocate two critically Important Research institutions, the Economic Research service, and the National Institute of food and agriculture will affect real people who rely on the Usda Services and hamper its capacity to support farmers, families, and Rural Communities for years to come. And for what . For what . Its still unclear to me what problem the usda is trying to solve with this move, but we can see the problems and the risks related to this move. The administration is requiring employees to uproot their families and move by september 30th even though they havent secured a Permanent Office space. There are questions about their authority and budget for the relocation. According to the usda, at least 63 of employees directed to move will leave instead of relocating. 63 or more. Thats on top of extremely high vacancy rates at these agencies. Rebuilding an entire work force will take time. In the interim, these agencies will not have the capacity to do their important work. The usda will also lose irreplaceable expertise. For example, the usda is losing vince crowley, an army veteran originally from indiana whose work publishing reports is critical to exporting expanding export markets, supporting transparent Commodity Prices and strengthening rural economies. The usda is losing jeffrey steiner, one of the nations leading experts on Hemp Research. The leading expert on Hemp Research whose knowledge would have helped develop new markets for hemp which was legalized in the farm bill. The usda is losing Tim Steinberg whose Economic Research supports rural manufacturing and business innovation. His critical work on the competitiveness of Rural America was shut down on september 30th because no one else in the department is qualified to work with this confidential highly sensitive data. There are hundreds more stories like these that we could share, the knowledge that we are throwing away and the expertise we are throwing away with this move. Its no bond wonder that leading scientists from both sides of the aisle stand in staunch opposition to this move. Now, the administration could keep these experts from leaving by giving employees the flexibility to continue their important work here until at least a Permanent Location is ready. The administration could extend the deadline for researchers to decide whether they will leave their jobs or relocate themselves and their families to a new city or over a thousand miles away. Instead, the administration is forcing out its employees with rushed politically calculated ultimatums designed to derail important Agricultural Research, and they dont say that lightly. This relocation fits a troubling pattern of this administration undermining the important work of the usda, including Critical Research our farmers need to address the impacts of Severe Weather caused by the changing climate. Congress has resoundingly rejected multiple budget proposals that would have cut usda Economic Research by 50 , rejected both sides of the aisle. Im concerned this socalled relocation is an attempt to go around congress and to carry out the steep reductions in capacity and research anyway. Its clear to me that this is not a relocation. Its a demolition. Its a thinly veiled ideological attempt to drive away key usda employees and bypass the intent of congress. I urge the administration to stop this and salvage what valuable expertise is left. This decision does far more than hurt usda employees. If this chaotic plan is not stopped, our farmers, our families in Rural Communities will be the ones that suffer in the long run. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Let me remind members of the Committee Time is very limited. We have votes at 11 30 thats most unfortunate given the issues that are of concern. I would like to welcome our witness before the committee this morning, dr. Scott hutchins is the deputy secretary for Research Education and economics at the department of agriculture. Prior to working at the department, dr. Hutchins held a variety of roles in the Agriculture Research and development, most recently as the global Research Development leader of corteva agra science of dow dupont. A masters degree from Mississippi State university and his doctorate from iowa state university. Dr. Hutchins last testified in this room in november after he was nominated to serve as the under secretary for research, education, and economics and his nomination was reported out of this committee on a voice vote for a second time on may the 14th. Welcome back to the committee, dr. Hutchins, and i look forward to your testimony. Please proceed. Thank you. Good morning. Chairman roberts, Ranking Member stab know, and members of the committee thank you for the opportunity to discuss Agriculture Research and implementation of related provisions in the 2018 farm bill. The Research Commission and economics missionary at usda is an Incredible Team and powerful force for the good of u. S. Agriculture. The ree missionary is comprised of four agencies, the Economic Research service, the National AgriculturalStatistics Service and the National Institute of food and agriculture. Ill offer a few updates on each followed by comment on current topics. Ars or the Agriculture Research service under the leadership of dr. Jacobs young is the primary Intermural Research agency for u usda. They have a long track record of scientific breakthroughs that benefit u. S. Producers and consumers. Its one of the two usda agencies responsible for the stand up and management of the national bio and agro defense facility in kansas. Just recently with chairman roberts joining i was pleased to cosign a memorandum of agreement with the department of Homeland Security to enable the transfer of responsibilities to usda. Ers or the Economic ResearchService Currently led by leeb tag continues to be a trusted source of high quality and objective Economic Research to inform and enhance public and private decisionmaking. Recent ers reports have highlighted trends and sales in development of veterinary antibiotics, a slowing of retail food price inflation, of food loss amounts at the farm level and ers has provided studies showing the impact agriculture has on the larger economy and balance of public versus private r d sector investment. The National AgriculturalStatistic Service led by administrator hamer, provides timely, accurate and useful statistic. They conduct hundreds of surveys each year and produce reports for the entire Agricultural Sector including production and supplies of food and fiber. Prices paid and received by farmers, farm labor and wages, farm finances, chemical use and changes in the demographics of u. S. Agriculture. Earlier this year, we were proud to have the opportunity to provide nasas largest and most visible report, the census of agriculture. Nifa, the National Institute of food and agriculture is usdas Research Agency providing funding and leadership to support research, education, and Extension Programs that address National Agriculture priorities and transformative practices. They primarily do this through competitive and formula grants. An additional aspect is tto support nifa funded programs supported over 104,000 students through recruitment, retention, Curriculum Development and faculty development. Through 4h serves to coordinate all four agencies on certain topics and supports all of usda via the science and includes the important function and oversight of scientific integrity. With regard to the 2018 farm bill implementation. First let me congratulate this committee aon the timely and positive bill in support of u. S. Agriculture. Ree held a special listening session on march 21st of this year to begin the process of farm bill implementation with all the ree leadership present. While each of the four agencies in the office of the chief scientist are included in the farm bill, the vast majority pertain to nifa, and thus far they have addressed the key legislation that were funded. With regard to relocating the ers and nifa agencies, secretary purdue announced they will relocate to the kansas city region after a long deliberatetive process. Its a vibrant urban center in the heartland growing agricultural hub and a home to considerable federal work force already. Longterm savings, the ability to attract top agricultural talent and proximity to numerous agricultural constituents will enhance the mission of these agencies in the longterm. The usda is fully committed to seeing nif a e rs thrive, and we will welcome six brand new employees to kansas city this comiing monday. In conclusion, thank you for the opportunity to be with you today. I respect the role this Important Committee plays in the success of the ree mission and look forward to answeri