US farmers aren't smiling at Soviet grain extension

President Reagan decided to seek a one-year extension of an agreement on sales of US grain to the Soviet Union, a compromise move that left the politically important Midwest farm belt dissatisfied.

An American Farm Bureau Federation spokesman said there is virtually nothing in the announcement of benefit to American farmers. They wanted negotiations for a new long-term agreement with bigger grain sales. The President had intended to strike a balance between a policy of retaliating against Moscow because of what he calls its role in the imposition of martial law in Poland last December and his desire to help agricultural exports.