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The value of trade: Agriculture is U.S. trade champion

U.S. farmers and agribusinesses are the most productive in the world – and with 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside the United States, it’s important that agriculture remain one of America’s most dynamic export sectors.

In fact, 2011 was a banner year. Total U.S. agricultural exports reached a record $137.4 billion, leading to the largest agriculture trade surplus in history – some $42.9 billion. For its part, the U.S. Grains Council helped the United States dominate the global corn market, capture two-thirds of the world’s sorghum exports, solidify new marketing channels for barley and develop global markets for distiller’s dried grains with solubles.

Strong export performance benefits both Council members and the U.S. economy as a whole, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture reporting that exports account for up to 30 percent of annual farm cash receipts.

That’s money that returns first to rural communities to be reinvested and then ripples through the economy via processing, packaging, financing, shipping and more.

It is a tremendous success story, and the Council plays a key role as the global marketing arm of U.S. farmers and agribusinesses. The Council recognizes and promotes the value of international trade relationships, some of which are highlighted in this online version of our annual report.

These relationships help identify emerging markets and encourage the adoption of trade policies that are consistent and fair, including policies towards agricultural biotechnology. They also allow the Council to broadly promote trade as a path to food security.