USDA PUBLISHES 1997 AGRICULTURE FACT BOOK
                                           Releases No. 0422.97
                                                               
                                   Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                         Laura.trivers@usda.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY


USDA PUBLISHES 1997 AGRICULTURE FACT BOOK

     WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 3, 1997--Deputy Agriculture Secretary Richard
Rominger today announced the publication of the 1997 Agriculture Fact Book.

     The 265-page book provides a wide range of information on such topics as
farms, food, rural issues, trade, the environment, research, education,
nutrition, economics, and the programs run by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. The reference book contains text, tables, charts, maps,
illustrations, a glossary of agricultural terms, an index, and a directory of
where to get more information from USDA.

     The book is available for $14.00 from the Superintendent of Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.  

     It also will be available later this month through the Internet from
USDA's home page: http://www.usda.gov.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Single free copies are available to members of the press from
USDA's Office of Communications, Room 460-A, Washington, DC 20250.   To
request a media copy, call John Margelos at 202-720-2058 or send an e-mail to
John.Margelos@usda.gov.

NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet.
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov