12/04/07 Dairy exports on record setting pace this year

There's no doubt about it; US dairy exports are growing. It's the job of USDEC, the US Dairy Export Council to build those exports worldwide. Washington State dairy producer Liz Anderson says USDEC's efforts are paying off. ANDERSON "Global demand is definitely there. Last year, 9.3 percent of our milk solids were exported. This year, as of the first half of the year, we've exported 11.2 percent of our total milk solids." More than half of USDEC's effort is funded by US dairy producers through their checkoff. Anderson says USDEC has uncovered new export opportunities in all regions of the world. ANDERSON "95 percent of the population lives outside of our country and our dairy farmers are so efficient that we are producing more than we can use in this country. So, we have to send it and supply food for the rest of the world. The innovation, research and work that USDEC is doing, and the global demand for our product; that's going to continue." It if weren't for those overseas markets excess milk solids would be a burden on the American domestic market. Thanks to the focused effort US dairy exports have increased for four consecutive years and are on pace to reach 2.5 billion dollars in value by the end of this year. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott