AGRICULTURE

Agriculture Exports Expected to Drop by $2 Billion in ‘97: The Agriculture Department forecast that farm exports, hobbled by tight supplies and stiff competition, would fall by $2 billion in fiscal 1997 from this year’s record $60 billion. The department predicted that despite strong prices, wheat, feed-grain and cotton export volume would drop and shave sales of those commodities by $4 billion. But it estimated oil seed exports would increase by $800 million in 1997 and that shipments abroad of livestock, poultry and fruits and vegetables would gain more than $1 billion. U.S. agricultural imports were forecast at a record $32 billion in fiscal 1997, up $500 million from this year.