Introduction 



Americans have come to take for granted the abun- 

 dant supplies of foodstuffs produced by our nation's 

 farmers, and their ability to help meet the world's 

 growing demand for food. We have come to expect 

 agriculture's contributions toward easing balance of 

 payments problems, and the employment provided by 

 ever expanding international trade. Somehow we 

 have failed to recognize these dramatic changes in 

 agriculture, perhaps because they occurred in a famil- 

 iar framework. We must, however, nurture technologi- 

 cal advances and encourage ttie development of even 

 more efficient production, processing and distribution 

 practices. 



No longer can we or the citizens of^our western 

 states overlook the vital role of agriculture in achieving 

 a sound economy at home and in promoting a stable 

 world society. It is, therefore, most appropnate that 

 the governors of our great western states devote their 

 energies to pursuit of policies that will help advance 

 agricultural production, promote world trade and help 

 assure that our future needs for sustenance will be 

 met. 



Richard M. Bressler 

 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

 Burlington Northern Inc. 

 Seattle, Washington 



