U.S. ?10 ag exports reach record $115.8 billion

U.S. Æ10 ag exports reach record $115.8 billion    The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday released data showing U.S. farm exports reached an all-time high of $115.8 billion in 2010.
   “U.S. farmers and ranchers had a record-breaking export year, surpassing the previous high of $114.8 billion, set in calendar year 2008, by nearly $1 billion,' said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a statement. 'We saw a rise in both the value and volume of U.S. agricultural exports worldwide.'
   Vilsack noted that every $ 1 billion in agricultural exports supports 8,000 American jobs.    'This is good news for all Americans in these trying economic times,' he said.

Vilsack

   Export sales rose for both bulk commodities, which increased 19 percent to $47.2 billion, and consumer-oriented agricultural products, which increased 15 percent to $45.4 billion.
   For the first time, China emerged as the top market for U.S. agricultural exports, with $17.5 billion in sales. Canada was second with $16.9 billion.
   “U.S. soybeans were the largest agricultural export product, reaching a record $18.6 billion in sales, surpassing the previous record of $16.4 billion in 2009,' Vilsack said. 'China purchased 58 percent of U.S. soybean exports last year. This is a significant increase from 2000 when China was 19 percent of the total U.S. soybean export market.”
   To read the latest U.S. agricultural export data, access the USDA's Global Agricultural Trade System. ' Chris Gillis