RUSSIA EXPECTS GOOD HARVEST.

Russian government forecasters say spring sowing is going well and that between 75 and 78 million tons of grain should be harvested in 1996. Agriculture Minister Viktor Khlystun said this meant Russia would not have to return to centralized grain imports this year, especially since grain consumption has fallen as a result of livestock reductions. Last year’s harvest of 67 million tons was the worst since 1965. (Interfax, Financial Times, May 22)

Defense Plants in Far East Get Boost.