This paper provides a series of tables on U.S. agricultural exports in terms of both value and volume since 1977. By covering a nine-year period, the tables demonstrate export growth and decline. U.S. agricultural exports in 1986 are just above 1977's, and the 1986 trade balance is the lowest in the nine-year period covered in this paper.,Donna U. Vogt, Analyst, and Barry Carr, Specialist, Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Division.,CRS 87-331 ENR,"April 14, 1987.","This report updates CRS Report No. 87-98, February 10, 1987.",SuDoc# LC 14. 18/3

The purpose of this report is to explain, analyze, and critique the National Economic Stability Act proposed by the National Organization of Ray Materials (N.O.R.M.). N.O.R.M. believes that most of today's economic problems, such as high rates of bankruptcy, the negative balance of trade, unemployment, and spiraling public and private debt, are related to our Nation's treatment of agriculture and other raw material producers over a long period of time. When raw material prices are cheap, below "full honest parity," rural America is short of buying power, and urban businesses are unable to operate at full capacity without the economy going into debt. N.O.R.M. proposes replacing existing farm programs with a law prohibiting the sale of certain basic agricultural commodities at less than their parity price.