What About Food Supplies?
Food shortages could plague the Soviet Union this winter. The Soviet harvest is expected to total 190 million tons, well below last year’s near-record 235 million tons, which still did not meet demand. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Edward R. Madigan is going to the Soviet Union later this month to assess these questions:
* Sharing: Will Soviet republics that produce more food than they consume share their surplus with other republics that do not enjoy that luxury?
* U.S. Reserves: Will American farmers put less grain in reserve and move more into the international market to help the Soviet Union meet the shortfall?
* U.S. Farmers: Will Congress allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to require all farmers who receive government price support to boost the amount of land they can plant for corn?
* Food Aid: Will the U.S. increase food aid--credit, credit guarantees or direct food shipments--beyond the current $2.9 billion to the fourth-largest customer of U.S. agricultural goods?
Source: Times Wire Services
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