Apple Exports Steady and Chinese Behind on U.S. Ag Purchases
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**About 1 in 4 U.S. fresh-market apples have been exported since the mid-2000s.
The exported portion is 20 to 30% annually, representing steady international demand.
According to 2025/26 marketing year data, completed in July, U.S. fresh apple exports totaled 1.87 billion pounds, roughly 26% of production.
The value of U.S. apple exports reached a record high of $1.16 billion.
The U.S. is the third-largest exporter, second to the E.U. and China.
**China's purchases of U.S. ag products other than soybeans are on track for their lowest level in seven years, despite a trade agreement calling for billions in annual imports.
A Reuters analysis shows Beijing purchased just $7.2 billion dollars worth of other U.S. ag goods between January and September despite China agreeing to purchase $17 billion in U.S. Ag products annually beginning this year.
That includes products such as meat and corn, at their lowest since 2019.
**The National Wheat Foundation has announced 24 national winners in its 2026 National Wheat Yield Contest, representing 10 states, averaging 146.4 bushels per acre.
The contest also recognized four winners in a pilot digital yield category and 71 state winners from 22 states.
State winners in the traditional categories averaged nearly 135 bushels per acre.
Executive Director Anne Osborne says Montana and Washington each had four national winners.
