Export Forecast

Export Forecast

Export Forecast. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture.

When Vladimir Putin made the announcement a few weeks ago to ban all U.S. ag imports there was an initial gasp from the ag industry. But as the days went buy it became apparent that in most cases the deal was not going to affect exports all that much. Now there is more good news on the horizon in the form of potential export growth in the next year. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack talks about the latest ag trade outlook for this year, and notes some of the reasons for record ag exports and net trade balance.

VILSACK: We're continuing to see growth in agricultural exports and again, another record year for fiscal year 2014 at $152 and a half billion dollars in American agricultural exports overseas leaves us not only with an export record but also an ag trade surplus record of $43-billion dollars.

He says that when you look at it, it makes sense.

VILSACK: We have a quality product in America. We have an affordable price for the products that we sell to the rest of the world. We have a reliable supply of those products and USDA and others are aggressively involved in promoting American agriculture.

He says that includes the Market Assistance Program, reverse trade shows and support for over 150 trade shows in the last few years.

VILSACK: Over 3000 small businesses are encouraged to sell their wares overseas. We've also been knocking down trade barriers. Over 1600 trade restrictions have been knocked down by out folks at the Foreign Ag Service and APHIS so a lot of good solid work is being done and reflected in these trade numbers.

That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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