REP. EMERSON PRAISES PORK SALE TO SOVIETS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide credit to the Commonwealth of Independent States for $30,000 metric tons of pork, under at program announced Sunday by President George Bush.

The credit under the Export Enhancement Program will be effective this week, Bush said. The program was announced at a meeting of the National Pork Producers Council in Chicago.

Congressman Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, praised the program, saying it benefits the nation's pork producers and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

"Recent events in the former Soviet Union have made extremely clear the important role that the American farmer can now play in expanding crucial export markets while at the same time helping to solidify democracy throughout these new Republics," Emerson said.

"This sale will ensure that the Soviet people will be able to purchase American pork from U.S. farmers to help meet their food needs in the crucial months ahead."

Emerson is a senior member of the House Agricultural Committee and has taken a leading role in urging the Administration and Secretary of Agriculture to develop proper trading arrangements with the developing Republics in the face of further democratization efforts.

American agriculture must continue playing a major role in the evolving relationship between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, Emerson said.

"This sale helps our pork producers in the short-run and America in the long-run," he said.

"It is refreshing to see that our continuing dialogue with the Soviets is indeed paying off with this transaction, and it provides hope that we will be able to foster a good trading relationship into the future."

Glenn Grimes, agricultural economist at the University of Missouri, estimated the pork sale will have a total impact of about $125 million on the U.S. economy, boosting corn and soybean consumption.

He said it would raise live hog prices by an estimated $1 to $1.25 per hundredweight, or as much as $3.13 per hog.