GLICKMAN NAMES NEW MEMBERS TO RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS

                                            Release No. 0395.97
                                                               
                                   Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                         laura.trivers@usda.gov
                                     Maria Bynum (202) 720-5192
                                           maria.bynum@usda.gov

GLICKMAN NAMES NEW MEMBERS TO RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS
ADVISORY BOARD

     WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced the appointments of five new members to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board.

     The one-year terms of ten of the 30 advisory board members had
expired.  Five new members were named and five others were reappointed to
their seats.  Authorized by the 1996 Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform (FAIR) Act, the advisory board was established to advise the
Secretary and land-grant colleges and universities on agricultural research,
extension, education, and economics policy and priorities.  

     "These individuals bring diverse skills and insight to the task of
identifying short and long-term priorities and policies in food and
agriculture," said Glickman.  "This 30-member advisory board is a critical
communications link between the federal government and the people it serves. 
The leadership of this group will help chart the future of research,
extension, education and economic policy."

     The new members include:  John Roger Farquharson, Haddonfield, N.J.,
Industry Council of Food Safety of the National Restaurant Association; 
Gerald Leeper, Kansas City, Mo., Farmland Industries, Inc.; Refugio I.
Rochin, East Lansing, Mich., Michigan State University; 
Patricia Quintana, Las Cruces, N.M., New Mexico State University; and C.
Eldwood Williams, Moorefield, W.Va., Hester Industries, Inc.

     The reappointed members include:  Jerry Glover, Muleshoe, Texas, Texas
Corn Producers Board; Richard Ross, Ames, Iowa, Iowa State University; Skee
Rasmussen, Belvideer, S.D., self-employed rancher; Ronald Warfield, Gibson
City, Ill., Illinois Farm Bureau; and Nancy Wellman, Miami, Fla., Florida
International University. 

     The next meeting of the advisory board will be held at the Holiday Inn
in Crystal City, Va., Nov. 5-6.  Items on the agenda include priority
setting for the Fund for Rural America and the research, education, and
economics budget for fiscal year 2000.

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