U.S. agricultural exports reached a record $152.5 billion in 2014, breaking the previous record of $141 billion set a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.
"American farmers and ranchers have once again achieved another year of record exports," says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a prepared statement. "Agricultural exports have climbed 41 percent in value over the past five years. U.S. agricultural exports have increased in volume as well as in monetary value, which demonstrates an increasing global appetite for high-quality, American-grown products.
"The Administration's Made in Rural America initiative, led by USDA, remains committed to strengthening rural communities, and will continue to focus on investments in rural businesses, manufacturing, energy, water and other infrastructure development. Collectively, these efforts help to expand export opportunities for what is grown and made in rural America, create jobs, and foster growth that strengthens our nation's economy," Vilsack says.
