Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623
                               Fred Jacobs   (202) 720-4649
                                          f.jacobs@usda.gov

SECRETARY GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF AGRICULTURAL AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE
   MEMBERS

       WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 1997-- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced members of the newly formed Agricultural Air Quality Task Force.

       As required by the 1996 Farm Bill, the task force will review
research results by any federal agency that address air quality issues
related to agriculture.  The Department will use the information as it
works with other agencies on agricultural air quality issues.

       "As always, our goal is to find ways to protect our environment
while protecting the productivity of farmers and ranchers." said Secretary
Glickman. "USDA looks forward to working with the Agricultural Air Quality
task force in furthering this goal."

       The task force will find means to (1) strengthen vital research
efforts related to agricultural air quality, (2) determine the extent to
which agricultural activities contribute to air pollution, (3) determine
cost-effective ways in which the agricultural industry can improve air
quality, and (4) coordinate research on agricultural air quality issues to
avoid duplication and insure data quality and sound interpretation of
data.

       Paul Johnson, Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service
will be the Department's point of contact with the task force.

       The members of the task force are:

Mr. Emmett W. Barker, Jr.            President, Equipment Manufacturers
                                     Institute, Chicago, IL

Ms. Phyllis Breeze                   Planning and Grants Specialist,
                                     Colorado Department of Public Health
                                     and Environment, Denver, CO

Dr. Victor S. Chavez                 Physician, Owner, Lubbock Minor
                                     Emergency Center Associates,
                                     Lubbock, TX

Mr. Manuel Cunha, Jr.                President, Nisei Farmers League,
                                     Fresno, CA

Dr. Thomas J. Ferguson               Physician, University of California,
                                     Davis, CA

Mr. William R. Hambleton             Agricultural Advisor, San Joaquin
                                     Valley Unified Air Pollution Control
                                     District, Fresno, CA

Mr. Eric G. Hurley                   Project Manager, Central Wisconsin
                                     Windshed Partnership, Hancock, WI


Mr. Jerold R. Masters                Executive Vice-President, Arkansas
                                     Pork Producers Association, Dover, AR

Dr. Joe Miller                       Supervisory Plant Physiologist
                                     Research Leader, USDA/Agricultural
                                     Research Service, Raleigh, NC

Ms. Mary D. Nichols                  Assistant Administrator, Office of
                                     Air and Radiation, Environmental
                                     Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Calvin B. Parnell                Engineer, Professor, Texas A&M
                                     University, College Station, TX


Dr. Robert R. Quinn                  Professor of Geography, Consulting
                                     Meteorologist, Eastern Washington
                                     University, Cheney, WA

Dr. Clinton B. Reeder                Farmer, Economic Consultant,
                                     Pendleton, OR

Dr. Keith E. Saxton                  Research Engineer, USDA/Agricultural
                                     Research Service, Pullman, WA

Mr. J. Read Smith                    Farmer/Rancher, Portland, OR

Dr. John M. Sweeten                  Professor and Resident Director,
                                     Texas Agricultural Experiment
                                     Station, Texas A&M University
                                     Research & Extension Center,
                                     Amarillo, TX

Mr. James K. Trotter                 Farmer, Macomb, IL

Mr. Dennis C. Tristao                Environmental Affairs Officer, J.G.
                                     Boswell Company, Corcoran, CA

Dr. Michael A. Veenhuizen            Engineer, Owner, Livestock Engineering
                                     Solutions, Greenwood, IN

Dr. Phillip J. Wakelyn               Manager, Environmental Health and
                                     Safety, National Cotton Council of
                                     America, Washington, D.C.

                               #

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