Soviets to Buy U.S. Wheat

Agriculture Secretary Richard Lyng announced today that the Soviet Union has agreed to buy 4 million metric tons of wheat subsidized by the U.S. government, ending a drought in American wheat sales to Moscow.

The United States offered the deal several weeks ago, Lyng said, and the Soviets responded with a promise to accept the 4 million tons by Sept. 30. The offer was made under a 2-year-old program in which the United States subsidizes farm exports with government-owned surplus commodities. The program was designed to compete directly against the European Economic Community, which heavily subsidizes its exports.