HDR1012000110061227961500Peanut Stocks and Processing                           
                                                                                
Released December 27, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service     
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For     
information on "Peanut Stocks and Processing" call Barbara Rater at (202)       
720-7688, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general  
agricultural statistics, information about NASS, its products or services,      
contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail:        
NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.  The "Peanut Stocks and Processing" U.S. Summary is         
available on Autofax, (202) 720-2000, report 1700.  See page 9.                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
Stocks estimates refer to November 30, 1996; all other data are for the month   
of November.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Peanut Stocks Down 21 Percent From Last Year                         
                                                                                
Peanut stocks in commercial storage totaled 2.33 billion pounds of equivalent   
farmer stock, compared to 2.95 billion pounds last year.  This total includes   
1.81 billion pounds of actual farmer stock.                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Shelled peanuts on hand totaled 486 million pounds of equivalent farmer stock.  
Roasting stock totaled 36.5 million pounds. There were 79.3 million pounds of   
Commodity Credit Corporation uncommitted stocks on hand as of November 30,      
1996.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Shelled peanut stocks totaled 365 million pounds of which 302 million pounds    
were edible grades and 62.9 million pounds were oil stocks.  Edible grade       
stocks by type were:  Virginias, 80.1 million pounds;  Runners, 195 million     
pounds; and Spanish, 27.1 million pounds.                                       
                                                                                
November millings totaled 332 million pounds.  Millings by type were 100        
million pounds of Virginias, 204 million pounds of Runners,  and 27.1 million   
pounds of Spanish.                                                              
                                                                                
Commercial processors utilized 129 million pounds of shelled edible grade       
peanuts during November. Utilization for all peanut butter products was         
60.2 million pounds, utilization for peanut candy was 38.3 million pounds, and  
utilization for snack peanuts was 29.2 million pounds.  Crushing for oil,       
cake, and meal totaled 48.4 million pounds during the month.                    
                                                                                
Deliveries under the Government Domestic Feeding and Child Nutrition Programs   
amounted to 3,850,478 pounds of peanut butter, and 168,516 pounds of roasted    
peanuts during November.  There were no deliveries of peanut granules during    
the month.                                                                      
                                                                                
Stocks of treated seed on hand November 30 totaled 1.01 million pounds,         
compared with 171,000 pounds on October 31, 1996.  Of the November total,       
901,000 pounds were Virginias and Valencias, 86,000 pounds were Runners, and    
22,000 pounds were Spanish.  October stocks of treated seed included 63,000     
pounds of Virginias and Valencias, 86,000 pounds of Runners, and 22,000 pounds  
of Spanish.                                                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Gr Lg 6 (12-96)                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
       Table 1.  Stocks of Peanuts and Specified Products at Month's End,       
                               Crop of 1996-97 1/                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :            :            :            : Farmer Stock Equivalent   
  Month      :   Farmer   :  Shelled   :  Roasting  :-------------------------- 
  Ending     :   Stock    :  Peanuts   :   Stock    :   Shelled   :  Total      
             :            :    2/      : (In Shell) :   Peanuts   :    3/       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                          1,000 Pounds                            
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :      44,358      332,301       17,538      441,960      503,856  
Sep          :     532,084      246,832        8,551      328,287      868,922  
Oct          :   1,759,388      312,518       29,614      415,649    2,204,651  
Nov          :   1,808,328      365,372       36,527      485,945    2,330,800  
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    :   2,318,032      448,703       37,797      596,775    2,952,604  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
See footnotes on page 8.                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
       Table 2.  Farmer Stock Peanuts, by Types, on Hand at Month's End,        
                               Crop of 1996-97 1/                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :         :         :         Spanish (by Areas)        :          
  Month      :         :         :-----------------------------------:  Total   
  Ending     :Virginias: Runners :Virginia:       :        :         :   All    
             :         :         :  North : South :  South :  Total  :  Types   
             :         :         :Carolina: East  :  West  :         :          
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                           1,000 Pounds                           
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :       0     44,358      0        0         0        0     44,358 
Sep          :  33,614    493,940      0        0     4,530    4,530    532,084 
Oct          : 376,130  1,274,564      0       11   108,683  108,694  1,759,388 
Nov          : 343,370  1,338,289      0        0   126,669  126,669  1,808,328 
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    : 453,519  1,717,939      0    4,164   142,410  146,574  2,318,032 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
See footnotes on page 8.                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Table 3.  Total Farmer Stock Peanuts on Hand at Month's End,          
                               Crop of 1996-97 1/                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :             :             Commercial Stocks        : Equivalent  
  Month      :     CCC     :--------------------------------------------------- 
  Ending     : Uncommitted : Restricted  :    Other     :         :Total Farmer 
             :   Stocks    :   Use 17/   :  Commercial  :  Total  :   Stock     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                             1,000 Pounds                         
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :         0        16/            16/          44,358      44,358  
Sep          :    15,212        16/            16/         516,872     532,084  
Oct          :    50,916        16/            16/       1,708,472   1,759,388  
Nov          :    79,322        16/            16/       1,729,006   1,808,328  
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    :   652,876        16/            16/       1,665,156   2,318,032  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
See footnotes on page 8.                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
   Table 4.  Shelled Peanuts and Roasting Stock (In Shell) on Hand at Month's   
                             End, Crop of 1996-97 1/                            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :           Shelled Edibles 19/      : Shelled :        :          
  Month      :------------------------------------:   Oil   :  Total :Roasting  
  Ending     :Virginias: Runners :Spanish : Total :Stocks 4/: Shelled:Stocks 5/ 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                           1,000 Pounds                           
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :  60,976   146,653   25,353   232,982   99,319  332,301   17,538  
Sep          :  40,088   121,295   10,670   172,053   74,779  246,832    8,551  
Oct          :  63,188   158,277   16,022   237,487   75,031  312,518   29,614  
Nov          :  80,079   195,309   27,063   302,451   62,921  365,372   36,527  
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    : 128,402   250,521   25,340   404,263   44,440  448,703   37,797  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
See footnotes on page 8.                                                        
                                                                                
         Table 5.  Farmer Stock Peanuts Milled (Net Weight), by Months,         
                               Crop of 1996-97 18/                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          :         :         :         Spanish (by Areas)          :           
          :         :         :-------------------------------------:   Total   
 Month    :Virginias: Runners :Virginia:        :         :         :    All    
 Ending   :         :         :  North :  South :  South  :  Total  :   Types   
          :         :         :Carolina:  East  :  West   :         :           
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          :                            1,000 Pounds                             
          :                                                                     
Aug 1996  :     480     31,294       0         0        0         0     31,774  
Sep       :  12,748    111,822       0         0    3,928     3,928    128,498  
Oct       : 135,972    239,426       0         0   23,212    23,212    398,610  
Nov       : 100,392    204,024       0         0   27,092    27,092    331,508  
Dec       :                                                                     
          :                                                                     
Jan 1997  :                                                                     
Feb       :                                                                     
Mar       :                                                                     
Apr       :                                                                     
May       :                                                                     
Jun       :                                                                     
Jul       :                                                                     
          :                                                                     
Same Month:                                                                     
Last Seas :  76,930    157,188       0         0   17,926    17,926    252,044  
          :                                                                     
Seas Total: 249,592    586,566       0         0   54,232    54,232    890,390  
          :                                                                     
95 To Date: 175,874    353,920       0         0   35,920    35,920    565,714  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Table 6.  Production of Shelled and Roasting Stock (In Shell) Peanuts,     
                        by Months, Crop of 1996-97                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          :           Shelled Edibles 18/       : Shelled :         :           
  Month   :-------------------------------------:   Oil   :  Total  :Roasting   
  Ending  :Virginias: Runners :Spanish:  Total  :Stocks 4/: Shelled :Stocks 5/  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          :                          1,000 Pounds                               
          :                                                                     
Aug 1996  :      48       500       0        548    23,614     24,162      711  
Sep       :   3,903    53,181   2,065     59,149    31,870     91,019    6,621  
Oct       :  45,180   157,215  15,815    218,210    36,744    254,954   62,649  
Nov       :  40,317   134,486  16,748    191,551    27,746    219,297   33,695  
Dec       :                                                                     
          :                                                                     
Jan 1997  :                                                                     
Feb       :                                                                     
Mar       :                                                                     
Apr       :                                                                     
May       :                                                                     
Jun       :                                                                     
Jul       :                                                                     
          :                                                                     
Same Month:                                                                     
Last Seas :  31,824   102,118  10,503    144,445    23,944    168,389   33,137  
          :                                                                     
Seas Total:  89,448   345,382  34,628    469,458   119,974    589,432  103,676  
          :                                                                     
95 To Date:  71,133   213,410  23,140    307,683    76,664    384,347   74,508  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
See footnotes on page 8.                                                        
                                                                                
     Table 7.  Shelled Peanuts Crushed, Production and Stocks of Peanut Oil     
                and Cake and Meal, by Months, Crop of 1996-97 7/                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             : Shelled  :        Production        :   Stocks (End of Period)   
  Month      : Peanuts  :------------------------------------------------------ 
  Ending     :Crushed 8/:  Crude Oil : Cake & Meal :Crude Oil 7/:Cake & Meal 7/ 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                            1,000 Pounds                          
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :    61,896     26,423       33,873       25,823        6,289      
Sep          :    61,591     26,601       34,165       29,719        8,619      
Oct          :    45,033     20,161       24,828       27,902        7,138      
Nov          :    48,382     19,862       28,305       30,392        8,005      
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    :    45,126     19,053       22,273       12,720        3,711      
             :                                                                  
Seas Total   :   216,902     93,047      121,171         --           --        
             :                                                                  
95 To Date   :   173,528     74,425       92,984         --           --        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Table 8.  Apparent Disappearance of Milled Peanut Products, by Months,     
                              Crop of 1996-97 9/                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :         Shelled Peanuts         :          :         :           
  Month      :---------------------------------: Roasting : Crude   : Cake &    
  Ending     :  Edible  :   Oil    :           :  Stock   : Peanut  :  Meal     
             :  Grades  :  Stocks  :   Total   :          : Oil 7/  :   7/      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                            1,000 Pounds                          
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :   137,997    50,613     188,610     14,154    27,592     34,796  
Sep          :   120,078    56,410     176,488     15,608    22,705     31,835  
Oct          :   152,776    36,492     189,268     41,586    21,978     26,309  
Nov          :   126,587    39,856     166,443     26,782    17,372     27,438  
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    :   166,123    36,837     202,960     30,112    20,528     24,883  
             :                                                                  
Seas Total   :   537,438   183,371     720,809     98,130    89,647    120,378  
             :                                                                  
95 To Date   :   656,234    90,412     746,646    107,331    81,468    104,183  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
See footnotes on page 8.                                                        
                                                                                
     Table 9.  Shelled Peanuts (Raw Basis) Used in Primary Products,            
               And In Shell Peanuts, by Months, Crop of 1996-97 6/              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :        Edible Grades Used In 19/             :         :         
             :----------------------------------------------:         :         
  Month      :         :       :          :        :        :  Total  :         
  Ending     : Peanut  : Snack :  Peanut  : Other  :        :   All   :In Shell 
             : Candy   :Peanuts:  Butter  :Products:  Total :  Grades : Peanuts 
             :  11/    :  10/  :    12/   :        :        :   13/   :   14/   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                           1,000 Pounds                           
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :  34,248   24,935   67,040     1,844   128,067   189,963    9,785 
Sep          :  29,741   30,441   58,917     2,964   122,063   183,654   10,744 
Oct          :  30,431   25,333   61,402     3,464   120,630   165,663   14,673 
Nov          :  38,321   29,200   60,178     1,744   129,443   177,825   12,156 
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    :  39,310   26,633   61,350     2,185   129,478   174,604   11,693 
             :                                                                  
Seas Total   : 132,741  109,909  247,537    10,016   500,203   717,105   47,358 
             :                                                                  
95 To Date   : 135,382  104,405  262,440    11,287   513,514   687,042   50,101 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                
                                                                                
   Table 10.  Virginias Shelled Peanuts (Raw Basis) Used in Primary Products,   
                         by Months, Crop of 1996-97 15/                         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                        Edible Grades Used In 19/                 
             :----------------------------------------------------------------- 
   Month     :             :            :          :            :               
   Ending    :   Peanut    :   Snack    :  Peanut  :   Other    :               
             :   Candy     :  Peanuts   :  Butter  :  Products  :   Total       
             :    11/      :    10/     :   12/    :            :               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                             1,000 Pounds                         
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :      2,990       7,985       6,413          534      17,922      
Sep          :      2,890      10,301       6,200        1,413      20,804      
Oct          :      3,125       7,636       4,525          993      16,279      
Nov          :      2,753      10,578       5,797          701      19,829      
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    :      2,226      10,136       6,663        1,168      20,193      
             :                                                                  
Seas Total   :     11,758      36,500      22,935        3,641      74,834      
             :                                                                  
95 To Date   :     11,282      36,344      27,842        5,593      81,061      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
See footnotes on page 8.                                                        
                                                                                
    Table 11.  Runners Shelled Peanuts (Raw Basis) Used in Primary Products,    
                         by Months, Crop of 1996-97 15/                         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                        Edible Grades Used In 19/                 
             :----------------------------------------------------------------- 
   Month     :             :           :           :              :             
   Ending    :   Peanut    :   Snack   :   Peanut  :    Other     :             
             :   Candy     :  Peanuts  :   Butter  :   Products   :  Total      
             :    11/      :    10/    :     12/   :              :             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                             1,000 Pounds                         
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :     29,946      14,969      57,156         1,186     103,257     
Sep          :     26,436      18,085      48,472         1,414      94,407     
Oct          :     26,717      15,466      54,662         2,162      99,007     
Nov          :     34,986      16,609      51,778           937     104,310     
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    :     35,382      15,035      52,054         1,006     103,477     
             :                                                                  
Seas Total   :    118,085      65,129     212,068         5,699     400,981     
             :                                                                  
95 To Date   :    115,725      62,064     228,015         4,668     410,472     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                
                                                                                
    Table 12.  Spanish Shelled Peanuts (Raw Basis) Used in Primary Products,    
                         by Months, Crop of 1996-97 15/                         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                        Edible Grades Used In 19/                 
             :----------------------------------------------------------------- 
    Month    :             :           :          :            :                
    Ending   :   Peanut    :   Snack   :  Peanut  :   Other    :                
             :   Candy     :  Peanuts  :  Butter  :  Products  :     Total      
             :    11/      :    10/    :    12/   :            :                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :                             1,000 Pounds                         
             :                                                                  
Aug 1996     :      1,312       1,981      3,471          124         6,888     
Sep          :        415       2,055      4,245          137         6,852     
Oct          :        589       2,231      2,215          309         5,344     
Nov          :        582       2,013      2,603          106         5,304     
Dec          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Jan 1997     :                                                                  
Feb          :                                                                  
Mar          :                                                                  
Apr          :                                                                  
May          :                                                                  
Jun          :                                                                  
Jul          :                                                                  
             :                                                                  
Same Month   :                                                                  
Last Seas    :      1,702       1,462      2,633           11         5,808     
             :                                                                  
Seas Total   :      2,898       8,280     12,534          676        24,388     
             :                                                                  
95 To Date   :      8,375       5,997      6,583        1,026        21,981     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
See footnotes on page 8.                                                        
                                                                                
These Statistics are collected and presented according to the Peanut Statistics 
Act which requires shellers, crushers and processors of raw peanuts to submit   
periodic reports for their operations.  These reports are usually based on a    
complete enumeration of all shellers and crushers and all of the larger         
processors of raw peanuts.  However, reports are occasionally received too      
late to be included in the first tabulation.  Allowances are made for these     
missing reports and revised totals are published in the next report.            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
 1/  Excludes stocks on farms.  Includes stocks owned by or held for account    
     of CCC in commercial storages.  Farmer stock on net weight basis.          
                                                                                
 2/  Includes shelled edible grades, shelled oil stock, and shelled seed        
     (untreated).                                                               
                                                                                
 3/  Actual farmer stock, plus roasting stock, plus shelled peanuts X 1.33.     
                                                                                
 4/  Includes straight run oil stock peanuts.                                   
                                                                                
 5/  Cleaned and unshelled.                                                     
                                                                                
 6/  Excludes peanuts milled for seed.                                          
                                                                                
 7/  Relates to oil mills only.                                                 
                                                                                
 8/  All crushings regardless of grade.                                         
                                                                                
 9/  Includes in transit, exports and domestic use.                             
                                                                                
10/  Formerly titled 'Salted Peanuts'.  Includes salted, unsalted,              
     dry and honey roasted, salted and unsalted roasted.                        
                                                                                
11/  Includes peanut butter made by manufacturers for own use in candy.         
                                                                                
12/  Includes peanut butter made by manufacturers for own use in cookies        
     and sandwiches, but excludes peanut butter used in candy.                  
                                                                                
13/  Includes all shelled peanuts crushed regardless of grade.                  
                                                                                
14/  Includes peanuts re-packaged, roasted in shell, salted in shell,           
     and raw in shell.                                                          
                                                                                
15/  Crushings by type not available.                                           
                                                                                
16/  Not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.                   
                                                                                
17/  Purchased from CCC for crushing or export.                                 
                                                                                
18/  Includes peanuts milled for seed.                                          
                                                                                
19/  Beginning in February 1988, shelled edible grades include blanched         
     and shelled roasted peanuts converted to a raw basis using conversion      
     factors of 1.08 and 1.12, respectively.  This should be considered         
     when comparing with previous years.                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Peanut Stocks and Processing" report will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET 
on January 27, 1997.                                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with    
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program         
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA     
Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD).     
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,      
D.C., 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is   
an equal employment opportunity employer.                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                         SUBSCRIBE TODAY!!                                      
                                                                                
For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data       
products, and services:                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          INTERNET ACCESS                                       
                                                                                
All NASS reports are now available free of charge on the worldwide Internet.    
For access, connect to the Internet and select:                                 
                                                                                
   1.  Worldwide Web:  http://www.usda.gov/nass/       OR                       
                                                                                
   2.  For Gopher/Telenet/FTP access:                                           
       HOST=usda.mannlib.cornell.edu        OR                                  
                                                                                
   3.  For a subscription direct to your e-mail address,                        
       send an e-mail message to:  usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu        
       and in the body of the message type the word:  list                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          AUTOFAX ACCESS                                        
                                                                                
NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine.  Please    
call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax.  Respond to the      
voice prompts.                                                                  
                                                                                
                 PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS                               
 CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK:   1-800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada)              
       Other areas, please call l-703-834-0125         FAX:  1-703-834-0110     
(Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.)               
                                                                                
                            ASSISTANCE                                          
                                                                                
For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information      
about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics     
HOTLINE at 1-800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail:                
NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
          USDA Announces Agricultural Outlook Forum  97                         
                    February 24 and 25, 1997                                    
              Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.                             
                                                                                
An era of freer markets under the 1996 Farm Bill has begun.  For an expert      
assessment of the impact, attend the Outlook Forum.  Top speakers will discuss  
the 1997 farm outlook, prospects to 2005, risk management, concentration issues,
market stability, world food security, marketing high-valued exports and more.  
Plan now to attend.  For program and registration details, check Forum home     
page, call (202) 720-3050 or dial (202) 219-0296 from your fax machine and      
request document 66666.   Send e-mail to agforum@oce.usda.gov.                  
                                                                                
Get news from the Forum.  Can't attend? After the Forum, download speeches from 
the Internet. Or, call 1-800-999-6779 to place an advance order for the printed 
proceedings (YCON-97) or new long term projections to 2005 (WAOB-97-1).         
                                                                                
  Ag Forum home page:  http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          Agricultural                                          
                             Outlook                                            
                            Forum  97