Poor crop outlook powers corn // Food prices could climb 6% in '97

WASHINGTON The Agriculture Department, in its first estimate ofthe fall harvest, Monday forecast a corn crop of 8.69 billion bushels- much smaller than had been expected and fuel for what is likely tobe the largest food price increase since 1990.

Analysts said food prices might climb 5 percent or 6 percent in1997, with tight grain supplies hobbling meat production.

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman disagreed, saying foodinflation would be "well below 5 percent" although grain pricesprobably would top this year's level.

But Glickman's assessment got little support among commoditytraders. Corn prices jumped the 12-cent limit on the Chicago Boardof …