Reserve Stocks of Grain: A Review of Research

Research and theory related to reserve stocks accumulation is reviewed. The objectives of holding reserves, storage rules, market conditions, and evaluation of storage rules in achieving objectives are considered. Major conclusions are: There is no one optimal stocks policy; in future models to analyze alternative stocks policies, the demand portion heeds to incorporate a more thorough demand-for-U.S.-exports component; future studies should examine substitutability in demand for all food and feed grains and oilseeds; supply, in addition to being considered a function of stochastic yields, should also be defined as a function of planted acres, where acreage responds to market conditions and public farm programs; and public vs. private control needs to be examine