July 25, 2011 (DES MOINES) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) director, Debi Durham today announced that international demand remains strong for Iowa’s agriculture products. They cited recently released numbers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing that Iowa exported $7.04 billion in agricultural goods in fiscal year 2010.|Strong international demand for Iowa ag products resulted in 8 percent growth in exports
(DES MOINES) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) director, Debi Durham announced that international demand remains strong for Iowa’s agriculture products. They cited recently released numbers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing that Iowa exported $7.04 billion in agricultural goods in fiscal year 2010.
“Iowa remains the number two state for ag exports as international demand remains strong and our corn, soybeans and meat products have a great reputation around that world,” Northey said. “As countries in Asia continue to develop and incomes rise, I expect our exports to continue to grow.”
The $7.04 billion in exports in 2010 is up from $6.55 billion in 2009, but still not reaching that $7.38 billion in 2008.
“IDED is committed to helping Iowa companies find new international outlets for their products as increasing trade is key to economic recovery and job creation,” said IDED director Debi Durham.
According to the USDA, in 2009, every $1 billion in US agricultural exports required 8,400 American jobs.
Iowa’s leading agricultural export is soybeans and soybean products, which was $3.29 billion in 2010. The next two leading products are feed grains and products at $1.87 billion and live animals and meat, excluding poultry, at $1.4 billion.
Other agriculture exports include feeds and fodders ($172.1 million), poultry and products ($66.8 million), dairy products ($59 million), hides and skins ($56.1), and fats, oils and greases ($44.4 million). Other exports include wheat and products, seeds, and other.
Durham and Northey both traveled to South Korea and China with Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds in June to promote Iowa exports with these key Iowa trading partners.
A full breakdown of agricultural exports from each state over the last four years can be found on the USDA’s website at www.ers.usda.gov/data/stateexports/2011/SX5yr.xls.|
