This volume investigates the complex interplay between United States agricultural production and the shifting demands of the international marketplace during the mid-1980s. The authors, including Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block, utilize comprehensive federal data and economic analysis to argue that American farmers must adapt to a globalized trade environment to remain competitive. The text provides a framework for understanding how domestic policy decisions and international trade agreements influence the stability of the American agricultural sector.

Experts view this yearbook as a foundational historical document for understanding the economic pressures facing American farmers during the 1980s. Researchers frequently utilize the text for its detailed statistical data and its reflection of the federal government's agricultural priorities at the time.