BUSINESS MEMO: FARM EXPORTS

WASHINGTON -- The Agriculture Department says there probably will not be any improvement in U.S. farm exports over the next year, further dampening farmers' hopes for a recovery in commodity prices.

The department projected in August that farm exports would grow by $1 billion, to $50 billion, for the 2000 budget year that began Oct. 1, but the department now says in a report to be released shortly that agriculture exports will remain at $49 billion in fiscal 2000 because of growing stockpiles worldwide.

Since August, projected exports of wheat, corn and soybeans have dropped by 5.4 million tons, says a summary of the report.