i U.S. ag trade value assessed
WASHINGTON, D.C. - future levels of U.S.
Besides year to year agricultural exports will
variation _due to weather, depend upon a number of
FISHER SPRAY PAINTERS
’ (Henry K. Fisher Inc.)
SANDBLASTING and
SPRAY PAINTING
INTERIOR and EXTERIOR
Aerial Ladder Equipment
Office & Shop - 667 Hartman Station Rd.
Residence - 2322 Old Philadelphia Pike
Lancaster, Penna.
For FREE Estimates Call 717-393-6530
factors. These are the rate of
economic growth in both the
developed and less
developed countries, the
production and trade
policies of other nations, and
the national and in
ternational trade policies of
other nations, and the
national and international
trade policies affecting
production, imports, and
trade between countries. So
says USDA director of
economics, Howard Hjort.
He says further that; The
expansion of U.S. exports to
developed countries may be
relatively modest in the
years ahead. Any increases
will be due primarily to
increased demand resulting
from shifts in consumer
demand to higher quality
foods, such as meats and
’meat products. Most of the
expected growth in food
demand will occur in less
developed countries. Most of
the countries the income
elasticity of demand is still
high and greatly accelerates
the growth in total demand
for food when per capita
income rises.
In Western Europe
available land resources for
feeds and feedgrain
production are com
paratively more abundant,
enabling these countries to
have a greater reliance on
domestic production for a
large proportion of their
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 10,1978
total feed consumption. The
Soviet Union has an abun
dant land base. However,
their production is subject to
major yield variability. This
translates into a highly
variable unport demand.
The Soviet import demand
for grams has ranged from a
low of less than 6 million tons
in 1974/75 to a high of over 26
million tons in 1975/76.
During the past 2 years grain
unports have averaged 15
million tons.
Soviet foreign trade policy
has generally emphasized
self-sufficiency. Foreign
trade policy in the USSR is
controlled by the Soviet
leadership through cen
tralized economic planning
and regulatory
organizations under the
direction of the Council of
Ministers. While the USSR
generally prefers bilateral
trade within the eastern
trading bloc, the Soviet
Union has stepped up its
imports of capital goods,
technology, and agricultural
products, especially grains,
from the developed market
economies.
Future USSR imports of
grains are likely to increase,
yet continue to be variable.
The policy decision the
USSR made in the early
1970’s to make up con
sumption levels is likely to
continue and affect the
actual level of U.S. exports
in coming years.
There has been a marked
change in the food and
agricultural policies of this
Nation since January 1977.
In part, the policy changes
are the consequence of
events and circumstances;
they are also due to our
perception of the role and
responsibility of our
government with respect to
the U.S. and world food and
agriculture system.
Expansion of U.S. export
markets is an essential
element of this ad
ministration’s food and
agriculture policies. At the
same time we must be
concerned about export
stability. Sustained growth
in farm income for U.S.
producers has become in
creasingly difficult to
achieve without continued
expansion and lessening the
instability in export
markets.
World supply and price
instability during recent
years for a number of major
agricultural commodities
have pointed up the need to
reassess U.S. export policies
and promotion programs.
Our export promotion
programs are aimed at
stimulating foreign demand,
and a credit thrust designed
(Turn to Page 114)
111