Farmers Gather for Barley Protest

Farmers from Minnesota, North Dakota and other key barley-producing states plan to gather at the Port of Stockton this morning to protest the expected unloading of subsidized barley from Finland. Gerald Lacey, who raises barley on about 1,200 acres in Campbell, Minn., said 25 to 30 farmers, including some from California, are expected to meet at the entrance to the Continental Grain Co. terminal. Penny-Newman Grain Co. of Fresno, which paid $3 million for the 30,000 metric tons of barley, reportedly has postponed the arrival of the ship that carries the cargo, which had been expected late last week. U.S. growers say allowing subsidized European grain into this country could ruin the market for them. Meanwhile, top Clinton administration aides met to discuss whether to begin U.S. grain export subsidies anew in response to the sale.