Trends in Soviet agriculture

Abstract

Militarily, the United States and Russia are roughly equally matched, but agriculturally there has been a dramatic shift in the balance of power during the last decade. Whereas both countries were exporters of grain in 1970, in 1981 Russia imported 45 m tons and America exported 115 m tons: more than one-half of the present Russian deficit will come from America. This imbalance, which is not limited to grain, has important political implications. Following the death of Brezhnev, who gave high priority to agriculture after his accession to power in 1964, his successor Yuri Andropov indicated in an important statement on 12 December 1982 that a comprehensive attack on weaknesses in the agricultural system will remain in the forefront of Soviet agricultural policy.