1.
GV Congress Building, Washington
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2.
SCU Butz speaking
0.34

3.
SV Reporters and audience listen (3 SHOTS)
0.45

4.
SCU Butz speaking
1.33


Speaking at a Washington press conference, Mr. Butz said:



BUTZ: "The chief message I want to get across is that in spite of the disappointing prospects for our crops in the United States in 1974, there is absolutely so basis for panic on the part of the American people with respect to the food supply in 1974 or 1975."



Then, referring to a United Nations population conference statistic that the world had only twenty seven days food supply in stock, Mr. Butz added:



BUTZ: "When he said the world has a twenty-seven day food reserve it just f???htens people, it simply is not true. We have a food reserve much greater than that....I asked on what basis it was last estimated that we had a twenty-seven day food reserve, he said he took in the old crops and carried out (INDISTINCT) and the principal exporting countries. But most of all he completely ignored this livestock inventory - in this country, in Europe, in the whole Southern Hemisphere. This is a tremendous food reserve the world has. And, at the moment, instead of having a twenty-seven day food reserve, I suspect we have a four hundred day food reserve, if you really want to get technical about it."




Initials LD/0320


ROY DAVIS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The United States Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz, said on Monday (August 26) that he saw no need for limiting food exports and that he would be vigourously opposed to any such move.