Agricultural exports are a reliable bright spot in the U.S. economy. In fact, every dollar of agricultural exports stimulates another $1.27 in business activity. In 2014 when the United States exported a record $150 billion of agricultural exports, it produced an additional $190.6 billion in economic activity for a total economic output of $340.6 billion. Not only do exports help our economy thrive, they provide jobs for families across the globe.
You can hear from Michigan native, Mary Safie, who has found success selling her gourmet pickled vegetables in the international marketplace thanks to programs and services funded by USDA. As company President, Safie says that exports now constitute 35-40 percent of sales for her business – and she credits USDA and Food Export-Midwest with supporting her every step of the way.
Join us throughout the month of June as we continue to explore how American agricultural exports have served as a bright spot for the U.S. economy since 2009 while helping to ensure our ambitious goals of ending poverty and hunger are met. Follow along on usda.gov, on the USDA blog and by using #USDAResults, or catch up on Chapter VI on our Medium site.
In June, we’ll look at how American agricultural exports have served as a bright spot for the U.S. economy since 2009 while helping to ensure our ambitious goals of ending poverty and hunger are met.
Did you know the Forest Legacy Program is the only federal grant program focused on the permanent protection of important private forestland, conserving over 2.5 million acres to date?
U.S. farm exports to China up 201% over 10 years, to $20.2 billion in 2015.
As an unbiased agricultural resource, Market News retail reports help encourage market stability and transparency by promoting healthy competition within the marketplace and providing equal access to market information for small and mid-sized producers and retailers.
Exports: Getting Into the Game
Whether you are new to exporting or your company has been in the business for years, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and its partners can help you build markets for your products around the globe. FAS offers a variety of services and programs that help U.S. agricultural exporters succeed in the global marketplace. From facilitating relationships with potential foreign buyers, to providing technical and financial assistance, FAS resources and expertise link U.S. agriculture to a world of opportunities.
USDA Market News – Your Source for Retail Commodity Prices
Sound business decisions are based off of reliable data, and this is certainly the case for food producers and retailers. For small and mid-sized producers, access to timely and reliable data can be critical to their success. Whether they are selling products on the wholesale or retail market, producers need to quickly see the commodities in demand and how much they should be charging for their product or what products are the best buy for shoppers at that moment in time.
Supporting U.S. Egg Exports – All in a Day’s Work for a USDA Egg Grader
I’ve had many jobs in my life, but none as challenging or rewarding as my career as a shell egg grader. With a cumulative 22 years grading eggs in Ohio, I’ve witnessed first-hand the evolution of an industry. I have also watched my agency – USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – adapt right alongside the industry, maintaining valuable, unbiased grading and certification services that support marketing opportunities for American agriculture in a global marketplace.
Trade Agreements Key to Oregon Winemaker’s Success
Exports are vital to the growth of U.S. agriculture. Since 2000, around 20 percent of annual agricultural production in the United States has been exported. Still, it’s difficult to conceptualize the real impact of free trade agreements until you talk to the people who have directly benefited from them. In April, I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of winegrowers from Oregon – among them Tom Gerrie, president of Cristom Vineyards in Salem, who was kind enough to share with me his personal experience in exporting.
Summer Meals: Fueling Children and Teens to Reach Their Highest Potential
As I travel across the country visiting our nation’s summer meals sites, I am proud of the commitment we’ve collectively made to nourish both the bodies and minds of our country’s children and teens. Schools, recreation centers, places of worship, libraries and other community sites have generously opened their doors to ensure kids receive healthy, balanced meals during the summer months – a time when many low-income families struggle to provide their children nutritious meals and snacks each and every day.
Talking Trade Opportunities In Ukraine And Romania
A current USDA trade mission is giving US agribusinesses a chance to increase sales in Ukraine and Romania (Rod Bain and Acting Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse)
Talking TTIP During Eastern European Visit
The Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary talked with counterparts in Lithuania and Romania in recent days about advancing the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. (Rod Bain and Acting Secretary Michael Scuse)
US Soybean Oil Sold To Cuba
The first purchase of US soybean oil by Cuba since 2010 was small, but in the opinion of some, significant. (Rod Bain and USDA oilseed analyst, Keith Menzie)
Some Praise for a USDA Program that Helps U.S. Agricultural Exporters
There are many ways that the USDA helps U.S. agricultural groups to boost overseas sales of their products. Some of those ways go beyond the usual food shows or promotions. (Gary Crawford and Dale Foreman)
Opportunity Increases For US Corn Exports
A smaller than expected crop in Brazil and other South American countries should give US corn growers increased export opportunities this season. (Rod Bain and World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Seth Meyer)
Actuality: Increased Corn Exports And US Balance Sheet
USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Seth Meyer notes an increase in corn export forecasts and how it will affect US corn stock totals.
More Wheat Supplies Expected Domestically And Abroad
Increased wheat production forecasts for the US, Russia, and European Union are expected to add to already large wheat supply totals. (Rod Bain and World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Seth Meyer)
US Rice Outlook Features Southern Medium Grain Rice
An export opportunity for one class of US rice is among the highlights of USDA's latest rice outlook. (Rod Bain and World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Seth Meyer)
Restrictions on Cuba hold Iowans back (The Des Moines Register)
Ending the travel and trade restrictions with Cuba would provide tremendous opportunities for Iowa businesses and enable economic mobility for the Cuban people. While the Obama administration has eased some restrictions on travel to and trade with Cuba, it’s time for Congress to lift the embargo, which harms Iowa business and hinders economic opportunities for the Cuban people. Engage Cuba, the leading coalition of businesses, trade organizations and civil society groups advocating for an end to the travel ban and trade embargo, co-published a “Heartland Survey” of voters’ opinions on U.S. policy toward Cuba.
USDA exports- Soybean sales up as China buys (Farm Futures)
Export sales of old-crop and new-crop soybeans were up from a week ago in USDA’s latest weekly report and old-crop business beat trade forecasts in a Reuters poll. China was a buyer in both crop years. Wheat sales at 28 million bushels were more than trip the previous week with Asian and Latin American countries taking the bulk of the business.
US Beef Exports Showing Positive Signs, Despite Lower April Volumes (The Cattle Site)
Through the first four months of 2016, beef exports were steady with last year’s pace in volume, but fell 13 per cent in value. Beef exports totaled 194.4 million pounds in April 2016, down 4 per cent from a year ago, while export value fell 13 per cent to $481 million. Through the first four months of the year, beef exports were 756.6 million pounds, valued at $1.84 billion. April exports accounted for 13 per cent of total beef production and 10 per cent for muscle cuts only, each down about 1 percentage point from last year.
Scuse seeks T-TIP support in Eastern Europe (Agri-Pulse)
The U.S. will take all the help it can get in pushing forward negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union - and that's one of the reasons USDA Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse is in Eastern Europe. The U.S. is counting on Lithuania and Romania, two of the countries that Scuse has visited on his week-long trip, to support the U.S. goal of getting T-TIP fully negotiated this year, he told reporters today in a conference call from Bucharest. Scuse said he has met with the prime ministers of both countries and stressed to each that the U.S. is hoping they will take leadership roles in moving the T-TIP negotiations forward.
Ag’s big chance to boost TPP (Politico)
It’s no secret that the agriculture community is one of the biggest supporters of the languishing Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, and today it gets a high-profile opportunity to try to build some momentum for the pact — courtesy of a hearing set by House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert. The panel will hear testimony from five witnesses, including two from Reichert’s home state of Washington: Dale Foreman, a past chairman of both the Washington Apple commission and the U.S. Apple Association, and Heather McClung, co-owner of Schooner EXACT Brewing Company and president of the Washington Brewers Guild.
Ag Secretary Vilsack Says Long Past Time For Missouri To Adopt Drug Monitoring Program (KCUR)
In 2014, opioid abuse accounted for more than 28,000 deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Missourians accounted for more than 1,000 of those deaths, according to Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, and last week a bill negotiated by Blunt and approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee hiked federal funding to combat opioid abuse to $261 million, a 93 percent increase over last year’s amount.
Fair Oaks Farms wants to make ag careers exciting (Indy Star)
As U.S. agriculture and food companies struggle to attract enough workers, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack hopes a Northwest Indiana farm and tourist attraction can help. Vilsack traveled Wednesday to Fair Oaks Farms — the nation’s largest agritourism attraction — to preview the farm’s newest exhibit, the “WinField Crop Adventure.” The first reaction of young people who go through the exhibit will be, “Geez, I didn’t know that,” he said. Then they’ll want to learn more. “And the third reaction is, ‘I want to be that,’” Vilsack predicted. “‘I want to be the scientist, the farmer. … I want to figure out the new economy that is displayed here.’”
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