204 



REGRETTABLY. THE BOND BETWEEN U.S. GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY IN 

 THE EXPORT ARENA SEEMS TO BE WEAKENING. EVER-FEARFUL OF GAO 

 CRITICISM, FAS SEEMS TO BE PARALYZED INTO INACTION AT JUST THE TIME 

 A MORE AGGRESSIVE AND FLEXIBLE INTERNATIONAL APPROACH IS MOST 

 WARRANTED. THE EXEMPLARY PARTNERING THAT CHARACTERIZED THE 

 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES 

 UP UNTIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO SEEMS TO BE UNRAVELLING AS 

 REGULATORY ISSUES COME TO DOMINATE MARKETING AND COMPETITIVE 

 ISSUES. RATHER THAN REFORM AND DEFEND THE LAST SIGNIFICANT 

 MARKETING INITL\TIVE AT ITS DISPOSAL--THE MODESTLY FUNDED MPP 

 PROGRAM--USDA/FAS SEEKS TO AVOID CONFRONTATION BY ADDING NEW 

 REGULATIONS WHICH PROMISE TO MINIMIZE ITS EFFECTIVENESS. 



MEETING THE COMPETITIVE CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE WILL REQUIRE 

 FUNDAMENTAL REORIENTATION OF CURRENT FAS POLICIES, PROGRAMS, 

 AND ORGANIZATION. OUR OBSERVATIONS ABOUT CURRENT FAS 

 SHORTCOMINGS, AND RECOMMENpATIONS FOR ACTION, FOLLOW: 



I. LONG-RANGE PLANNING IS LACKING 



TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THE U.S. LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY, REPRESENTING 

 OVER ONE-HALF OF TOTAL FARM RECEIPTS, WAS NOT CONSULTED EVEN 



