Data Center Concerns and $369.2 Million in 2024 Ag Exports
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**Data center development is drawing growing concern across party lines, particularly over farmland, water, and electricity costs.
A Farmdoc Daily analysis found Democrats reported concerns, averaging more than 5.5 on a seven-point scale.
Republican concerns about land and water use also increased from 4.5 to 5.2.
Worry about farmland conversion rose 0.7 points among Democrats and 0.8 points among Republicans.
**U.S. agricultural exports generated $369.2 billion in total economic activity in 2024.
The USDA’s Economic Research Service reports that agricultural exports, including biodiesel, totaled $177.2 billion.
Those sales supported an additional $192 billion in domestic economic activity through transportation, storage, handling, packaging, marketing, and financial services.
USDA estimates that every dollar of agricultural exports supported $2.08 in total U.S. economic activity.
**A major U.S. grain export conference in Seattle wrapped up after drawing more than 500 attendees from 48 countries to discuss market opportunities, sustainability, and the value of American commodities.
Export Exchange 2026 brought together buyers and sellers of U.S. corn, sorghum, and distillers’ dried grains with solubles.
The event was sponsored by the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council, Growth Energy, and the Renewable Fuels Association.
