Reagan says credit plan for farm exports widened

January 12, 1983

President Reagan, criticizing what he called unfair trade practices by the European Community, Tuesday announced a $250 million expansion of a credit program to boost US farm exports.

He said the enlarged program should increase agricultural exports by $1 billion this year. The President disclosed the move in a speech in which he also said he would go ahead on Jan. 24 with a ''payment-in-kind'' plan to raise depressed farm prices by offering government-held surplus grain and cotton to farmers who reduce crop acreage.