You're about to become the target of a new food publicity campaign -- and it's not for breakfast links or sugar-free gum.

It's about agricultural exports. Farm exports are expected to earn a record $47 billion this year with, apparently, only the prospect of greater sales ahead.

But there's a down side to this export boom. As exports increase -- largely because of crop failures elsewhere -- so do supermarket prices. Conversely, abundant crops overseas can cut demand sharply and seriously reduce US farm earnings.

According to farming groups and commodity traders, American consumers must appreciate how much the entire economy benefits when exports are booming -- but they also must appreciate the related risks. Otherwise, they won't be ready to shell out the cash needed in slump years to keep the US agricultural machine in top shape.

So you can expect to hear more on the subject in your local supermarket, via TV talk shows, and the like .m