GLICKMAN NAMES DALLAS SMITH ACTING UNDER SECRETARY
                                            Release No. 0001.97

                                   Tom Amontree  (202) 720-4623
                                   Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623


GLICKMAN NAMES DALLAS SMITH ACTING UNDER SECRETARY FOR FARM AND FOREIGN
  AGRICULTURAL SERVICES

     WASHINGTON,  Jan. 3, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced that he had named Dallas Smith Acting Under Secretary for Farm and
Foreign Agricultural Services.  Smith will serve as acting under secretary
until the successor to Under Secretary Gene Moos is selected.  Moos'
resignation becomes effective January 5, 1997.

     "Dallas has been an able leader in the Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services mission area," Glickman said.  "He has been a steadying force during
the implementation of the new farm bill and has helped provide the leadership
that has led to record growth in agriculture exports.  His keen understanding
of farming coupled with his in-depth knowledge of USDA programs and operations
make him uniquely suited to guide the mission area during this transition
period."

     Smith served as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services from 1993 to present.  As Deputy Under Secretary, Smith provided
leadership to farm and foreign agricultural programs.  Specifically, he
exercised general direction over several key areas, such as farm credit and
crop insurance programs.  Prior to his appointment as deputy under secretary,
Smith was a career Senior Executive in the USDA.  He served for eight years as
the director of the Tobacco and Peanuts Division of the Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation Service, now the Farm Service Agency.

     Smith comes from a farm background.  He was born and reared on a tobacco
farm in North Carolina.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in
Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University.