Increased values, rather than large volume increases, help pump ag exports to record values.

Jacqui Fatka, Policy editor

November 6, 2014

5 Min Read
Ag exports reach $152.5B

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its final total for U.S. agricultural exports in Fiscal Year 2014, which soared to a record $152.5 billion, up from last year's record of $141 billion.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack shared that ag exports have climbed 41% in value over the past five years. “U.S. agricultural exports have increased in volume as well as in monetary value, which demonstrates an increasing global appetite for high-quality, American-grown products,” Vilsack said.

Red meats and products saw an 11% increase from 2013 to 2014, although poultry meats and products were down 1%. Volumes for red meats were up 2%. Dairy products saw a strong increase up 21% from 2013 levels. Nonfat dry milk saw a 15% increase in volumes year-over-year.

Corn export values nearly doubled, making up most of the overall 16% increase of grain and feed exports. Corn volumes were up 178%, with sorghum volumes up 176%. Soybean export values were up 17%, with soybean volumes up 31%.

"The Administration's Made in Rural America initiative, led by USDA, remains committed to strengthening rural communities, and will continue to focus on investments in rural businesses, manufacturing, energy, water and other infrastructure development," Vilsack said. “Collectively, these efforts help to expand export opportunities for what is grown and made in rural America, create jobs, and foster growth that strengthens our nation's economy.”

U.S. agricultural trade 1/, fiscal years, calendar years, year-to-date, and current month

Fiscal years 2/

Fiscal year-to-date

Sept.

2010

2011

2012

2013

2013

2014

2014

Billion dollars

Agricultural exports

108.529

137.465

135.906

140.999

140.999

152.513

10.524

Agricultural imports

78.963

94.511

103.370

103.879

103.879

109.184

8.629

 

 

 

 

 

Trade balance 3/

29.566

42.955

32.536

37.120

37.120

43.329

1.896

Calendar years

Calendar year-to-date

Sept.

2010

2011

2012

2013

2013

2014

2014

Billion dollars

Agricultural exports

115.820

136.444

141.406

144.379

99.066

107.199

10.524

Agricultural imports

81.863

98.959

102.919

104.285

78.826

83.783

8.629

 

 

 

 

 

Trade balance 3/

33.957

37.486

38.487

40.094

20.239

23.417

1.896

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author(s)

Jacqui Fatka

Policy editor, Farm Futures

Jacqui Fatka grew up on a diversified livestock and grain farm in southwest Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a minor in agriculture education, in 2003. She’s been writing for agricultural audiences ever since. In college, she interned with Wallaces Farmer and cultivated her love of ag policy during an internship with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, working in Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Capitol Hill press office. In 2003, she started full time for Farm Progress companies’ state and regional publications as the e-content editor, and became Farm Futures’ policy editor in 2004. A few years later, she began covering grain and biofuels markets for the weekly newspaper Feedstuffs. As the current policy editor for Farm Progress, she covers the ongoing developments in ag policy, trade, regulations and court rulings. Fatka also serves as the interim executive secretary-treasurer for the North American Agricultural Journalists. She lives on a small acreage in central Ohio with her husband and three children.

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