Issues Surrounding the Management of Agricultural Exports

Gao ID: ID-76-87 May 2, 1977

Interviews, questionnaires, and literature reviews were utilized in an attempt to describe and evaluate: (1) the circumstances surrounding the 1974 and 1975 grain purchases by the Soviet Union; (2) Agriculture's management of its export reporting system; (3) Agriculture's forecasting of foreign supply and demand; and (4) executive branch agricultural export policy and related issues.

Fundamental improvements are needed in the Nation's food export machinery. The Department of Agriculture's export reporting system needs to provide accurate and timely data on exports; a necessary input if the effects on domestic supply and price are to be minimized. Current elements of export policy need to be more complete and cohesive, and they need to provide the flexibility necessary to meet both domestic and international objectives as well as changing food supply and demand situations. Export policy implementation needs more coordination, cohesion, and better timing.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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