USDA's ag exports forecast
Washington Ag Today September 2, 2011 Washington agriculture is heavily reliant on exports and the USDA has just updated its export forecast for U.S. agriculture overall. The department is expecting both 2011 and 2012 agricultural exports to total 137 billion dollars, both record high. Would the 2012 export estimate change if the three pending free trade agreements the U.S. has are ratified by Congress or some markets further reopen to U.S. beef? USDA chief economist Joe Glauber answers that question. Glauber: “What we look at is essentially assuming what trade agreements are in place right now. So we would not be factoring in new trade agreements. That, of course, could change if we were to see ratification of those agreements.” There is another record on the export front. The current estimate of the ag trade surplus is a record 42 billion dollars for fiscal year 2011. The forecast for the ag trade surplus in 2012 is 32 billion, which would be the third highest. The Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration Quarterly meeting is coming up next Wednesday, September 7th. The ten a.m. meeting will be conducted by telephone and will cover such items expiring position terms and the 2012 legislative agenda for the commission. Any questions call the commission office at 509-266-4303. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.
