Inside Report (3)

Japanese imports have struck again - this time on US farms. Over the past five years, Japan's share of the US farm tractor market has jumped from 1 percent to an estimated 28 percent, or as high as 50 percent if you include tractors built in Japan for Allis Chalmers, Deere, Ford, International Harvester, Massey-Ferguson, White, and others.

Tractor manufacturers, domestic and foreign, are counting on a 6 to 8 percent increase in their '82 sales - if the Reagan economic recovery program takes effect in time and if farmers respond to lower interest rates and new tax breaks by buying new equipment.

Without a swift sales boost, one US farm equipment leader, International Harvester, could fold.