Al2-Lancast»r Farming, Saturday, October 5,1985 U.S. ag exports (Continued from Page AID) is China’s main supplier, and last year wheat exports totaled 3 million tons, nearly 30 percent of their wheat imports.” Mexican Purchases Mexico is the world’s fourth largest petroleum producer, which when oil prices were high meant substantial agricultural imports to offset a lagging domestic food system. The U.S. share of Mexico’s farm imports rose from 65 percent to almost 90 percent in 1983. “When the financial crisis hit Mexico,” says MacDonald, “U.S. sales fell to $1.2 billion in 1982. Extensive credit guarantees helped keep sales from slipping further in 1983. In 1984, the Mexican economy and agricultural production grew modestly, the need for credit declined, and exports from the U.S. climbed to $1.97 billion.” Com, the largest U.S. export to Mexico, is used primarily as food. Sorghum and oilseeds are also important exports, but unlike com, they often face competition from other suppliers, including Argentina and Australia. Other Nations Of the major U.S. markets, Egypt is the only nation that im ports more food than nonfood, led by wheat and wheat flour which I lYetnOfl ] \ #1 PjTjj increased from $258 million in 1979 to $352 million last year. Egypt also buys substantial amounts of animal fat and vegetable oils. The Soviet Union is a substantial but inconsistent customer, writes MacDonald, ranking second last year but only sixth overall for the 197944 period. While total U.S. exports to the Soviets vary, so do the commodities they buy. “In 1979, for example, wheat ac counted for 26 percent of our ex ports to the Soviets; in 1984, it reached 47 percent as the Soviets sought large quantities of grain to cover the serious domestic short fall. U.S. sales vary with Soviet grain production and political and economic policies.” Canada stands as our most important competitor, consistently exporting large quantities of wheat and barley; however, ease of transportation makes large U.S. exports of corn and oilseeds to eastern Provinces possible. But the largest portion-40 percent-of its U.S. farm imports are hor ticultural products worth over $BOO million. Canada bought about one third of all U.S. fruit and vegetable exports with a price tag of $740 million and 14 percent of our meat exports in 1984 worth $B4 million. \SBS WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Edgar (D-7th District) today in troduced legislation to increase the tariff on imports of the protein casein, the dairy byproduct far mers consider a major headache for the troubled dairy industry. Casein, used for a variety of in dustrial purposes like glue and paints, is also used in non-dairy products such as powdered coffee cream, imitation cheese, and whipped topping, displacing nonfat milk products and disrupting the government’s dairy price support program. Dairy farmers are already suffering from the lowest milk prices in six years. “This week, as Congress con siders this year’s farm bill, we will be debating the fact that the federal government is spending millions of dollars a year to buy nonfat dry milk from our dairy farmers, because they can’t compete with cheap subsidized imports from abroad,” Edgar stated. He noted that casein im ports to the United States rose from 72,428 metric tons in 1983 to 87,357 metric tons in 1984. “My bill would impose a tariff on imports of casein to help reduce the damaging oversupply of Hauling grain to the elevator? Maybe you didn’t know you’re losing big money. Elevators cost plenty First there’s the hauling Then the unpleasant moisture dockage Then the storage fee Not to mention all those frustrating hours waiting in line just when you really need to be in the field Just think what having your own gram drying and storage could mean for your operation Beats other drying systems hands down. Cuts energy costs 75% No high temperature expense with computer controlled fan-forced air Reduced shrinkage Natural moisture removal means less shrink, higher test weights and more profit Better grain quality Your gram keeps more starch, sugar and valuable nutrients Reliable computer technology Automatically monitors gram day and night for optimum gram moisture content Farm proven from the Midwest to the East Coast, the AeroDry System can really add to your bottom line Call or mail the coupon for more information and where to see the AeroDry System in action near you AeroDry pays off. Edgar proposes bill to close casein ‘loophole 9 American nonfat dry milk,’ ’ Edgar it subject to the standard tariff, said. “According to the Depart- “It’s time to close this casein ment of Agriculture, in 1980 the loophole and recognize what is a federal government would have* literal fact. Casein is a food saved $3OO million dollars in price! product and should be treated as support purchases if no casein had such. Putting the tariff on casein been imported. In these high- will encourage the food industry to deficit times with scarce federal buy nonfat dairy products from dollars, we can’t afford to go on states like Pennsylvania, which is subsidizing the use of casein rather ranked fourth nationally in dairy than our own dairy products.” production, help our farmers, and Edgar’s bill would reclassify save the federal government casein from an industrial product money. This is a simple, cost free from any tariff to a food efficient way to improve the product subject to a tax of five federal dairy price support system cents a pound. Edgar noted that while saving our family farms casein was originally intended only from tariff-free competition from for industrial use, but that its use abroad,” Edgar said, “and I will as a food product now should make do my best to make sure that Congress approves it.” 'COMPUTERIZED GRAIN MANAGEMENT lanufactured by ADVANCED AG SYSTEMS, INC RD#2, Box 159, Elverson, PA 19520 Send more information I □ Contact me for free Energy Audit I I Name I Address ■ City. I Stale. L- - -J For the representative nearest you call 215-286-0301 Zip_. Phone. GIGANTIC SELECTION Lancaster Farming's CLASSIFIEDS
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