VOA慢速英语20061017a

AGRICULTURE REPORT - Farmers Organize to Try to Control Potato SupplyBy Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: Tuesday, October 17, 2006

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.


Sorting potatos

Potatoes are a traditional part of American meals. But people are not eating as many potatoes as they did in the past. The United¹ States Department of Agriculture reports that it expects potato use to decrease during the next fourteen years.

Growers say one main reason is that more people are worrying about getting too fat. Several popular weight-reducing plans restrict² carbohydrates³. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates.

American potato farmers also face competition from foreign growers. To deal with these problems, a non-profit organization is working to get farmers to limit potato production. The United Potato Growers of America was formed more than a year ago. Its members plant most of the potatoes in the nation.

Limiting production breaks with tradition. Over the years, many American potato growers have done their best to grow large crops. The more potatoes they produced, the more they had to sell.

But too many potatoes for sale can mean too little profit. So the potato growers organization wants to reduce the amount of potatoes reaching the market. The goal is to keep demand strong and continuous⁴.

Members promise to reduce their planting of potatoes. They also say they will not send potatoes to market when the supply becomes too large.

The idea began about two years ago when potato growers from the state of Idaho formed the United Potato Growers of Idaho. The group expanded its membership⁵ to become the national organization.

Idaho potato grower Albert Wada is board chairman of United Potato Growers of America. Mister⁶ Wada recently compared potato prices before and after formation⁷ of the organization. Between September, two thousand four and June, two thousand five, overproduction of potatoes brought prices down. But in the same period a year later, growers received an average price increase of four dollars for every forty-five kilograms⁸ of potatoes.

But not all potato farmers want to join the organization and restrict their crops. And planting time next spring will bring a test. The organization will learn if members really will limit their planting of potatoes.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. To read the next of this program and download audio⁹, go to www.unsv.com. I'm Steve Ember.

1 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

2 restrict   

n./vt.限制，限定，约束

参考例句：

• He feels this new law will restrict his freedom. 他觉得这一新法律会限制他的自由。
• Don't restrict her proper activities.不要拘束她的正当活动。

3 carbohydrates   

n.碳水化合物，糖类( carbohydrate的名词复数 )；淀粉质或糖类食物

参考例句：

• The plant uses the carbohydrates to make cellulose. 植物用碳水化合物制造纤维素。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All carbohydrates originate from plants. 所有的碳水化合物均来自植物。 来自辞典例句

4 continuous   

adj.继续的，连续的，持续的，延伸的

参考例句：

• She finally got in after 10 years'continuous effort.坚持不懈地努力了十年后，她终于当选了。
• We must be continuous to study.我们必须不断学习。

5 membership   

n.成员资格，会员全体，从属关系

参考例句：

• I must renew my membership of the sailing club.我必须延续我的航海俱乐部会员的资格。
• He made up his mind to apply for membership in the Party.他决心申请入党。

6 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

7 formation   

n.形成，组成；形成物，结构；队形，排列

参考例句：

• This is the formation of a new government.这是新政府的构成。
• The aircraft are flying in formation.飞机编队飞行。

8 kilograms   

n.千克( kilogram的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 2 kilograms of rice 2公斤大米
• Every tonne of coal contains,on average,30 kilograms of nitrogen. 每吨煤平均含30公斤氮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 audio   

n./adj.音频(响)(的)；声音(的)，听觉(的)

参考例句：

• Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来，供以后查阅。
• You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。