AGRICULTURE

Russian Trade Spat Forces Tyson to Cut Production: Tyson Foods Inc., the largest U.S. poultry producer, said it will scale back production by 7%, largely because of a trade barrier Russia said it would impose March 19. Because of that, second-quarter earnings are expected to drop, Chairman Leland Tollett said. Russia said last month that it would bar U.S.-produced chicken, citing sanitation concerns. U.S. producers responded that Russia was actually seeking to protect its own poultry market. A spokesman said Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson is optimistic that the issue will be settled, but not so much that it would not cut production. Russia bought $150 million worth of Tyson chicken in 1995.