Wednesday, March 9, 1933 7 Daily Ncbraskan n n Hn By Kristi Lynch The major goal of the UNL Japanese agricultural training program is to improve international understanding, stimulate cooperation between the United States and Japan and improve agriculture. The training program began in 1966 with the support of the United States and the government of Japan. Nebraska became involved six years ago. Illinois, Colorado, Oregon and Washington also participate. "The program is financially self supporting. The trainees pay for their expenses with farming jobs. Trainees are single, between IS and 30 years ago and have farm backgrounds. The 1 13 trainees came to this country in June of 1981. They began training at Big Bend Community College in Washington state. This part of the program served as an orientation to U.S. life and customs. They also were given instruction in English, although they were required to have some knowledge of the language to participate in the program. The trainees spend six months in classroom instruction and 18 months on host farms. Three of the 18 months are spent studying areas of interest to the individual, such as swine, poultry or beef. The 40 trainees at UNL are now at this phase. They are staying with "host families" in Lincoln. Although the trainees probably will not be able to use some of the techniques they are learning in the United States, the training gives them a "vision for their future," said Russ Free, coordinator of the program and a UNL graduate student. Tatsu Sakitani said he has learned how to cross-breed cattle that can be fed forage. "If we cross-breed, then we can raise forages ourselves for feed," he said. The forage-eating cattle produce a marbled beef called Kobe, a pure-bred preferred by the Japanese. However, Kobe beef is expensive and used mostly by restaurants, or "the elite," he said. If the Japanese produced the cross-breed, they would not have to depend on the United States for the grain required to produce the highly marbled Kobe, Sakitani added. While feeding livestock efficiently is important in the United States, less emphasis is placed on it in Japan, where feed is limited. Eddie Okada has learned to breed swine that require less feed to grow to its maximum size. Since American poultry farms are larger than Japanese poultry farms, management practices are different. Therefore, Isao Hagiwara said he will not be able to use most of the management techniques he has learned in America. Hagiwara was able to work on a Colorado farm that is about the size of his father's farm in Japan. The 40 trainees will return to their designated host farms on April 1. Host farms are near Hemingford, Potter, Seward, Battle Creek and Geneva. After a lour of the United States, the 1 13 trainees will return to Japan at the end of June. Akira Makiyama said although some of the American technology they learned is not applicable in Japan, the trainees did not come to the United States in vain. During the two years the trainees have been in the United States, the trainees have learned about the life of American people, made friends and formed good relationships with host families, he said. "That is important for us," he said. "We can understand Americans more and they can understand us more." The trainees will become leaders in agriculture when they return to Japan, he said. Some will work on their own farms while others will work in a university, a research center or technical assistance programs for developing areas of the world, Sakitani said. They will return to Japan with an understanding of the American farmer and perhaps a future goal in mind, he said. THE ANSWER IS HELP FIGHT BIRTH DEFECTS v fl f F1 Support the n C0J iviarcn or uimes LJ BIRTH DEFECTS FOUNDATION U -. 1. ". .-. ,i. n fA c JWaaees j J LINCOLN CtNTEfl I OMAHA WfSTBOAOS V li ''"' Lincoln gateway Hastings downtown ' m on ' Jf h Jt- c 4 71 I WANT YOU! TO VOTE MARCH 9th in the ASUN ELECTIONS Have your voice heard by casting your ballot The Polling Places are as follows: City Union 9am-8pm East Union 9am-8pm CBA 9am-3pm Burnett 9am-3pm Hamilton 9am-3pm Westbrook Music Building 9am-3pm Law College 9am-3pm Able-Sandoz Food Service """ 1 Harper-Schramm-Smith Food Service! Cather-Pound-IMeidhart Food Service! Selleck Quadrangle Food Service I j- 10am-2pm and 4:30-7pm VOTE MARCH 9! .1 OJij lLiJiJij jl MEMBERS ONLY by Europe Craft When you put it on something happens. THE RACER is a polycotton Chintz with snap strap epaulets and a snap neck strap over a stand-up collar, knit collar and cuffs, zip front closing and fully lined. French blue, mist gray, sand and seawood. Regulars S50 Longs $54 THE REVERSIBLE is a polycotton Chintz with one side solid color, one side contrasting color with- piping trim. Stand-up collar with snap strap, matching or contrasting color. Knit waist band and hidden zip front closing. French blue with slate or sand with chianti. Regulars S55. THE KLEIN, not illustrated, has a tuck away hood zippered in a stand-up collar, knit cuffs and waist band, slash pockets. Black, smoke and pecan. Regulars $55 Longs $60. e o &3 DOWNTOWN 12th and O STREET LEVEL GATEWAY WHERE IT'S AT SHOP 1 II " - - - " II'