International trade was once again an engine for economic growth in rural America in 2017, with US farm and food exports reaching $140.5 billion for the fiscal year, the third-highest total on record.

“As we wrap up another banner year for US agricultural exports, I’m proud of the role that Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has played,” said FAS Acting Administrator Holly Higgins, “especially since those exports generate 20 percent of US farm income, stimulate rural economic activity and support more than a million American jobs.

“FAS staff around the globe have worked tirelessly with their counterparts across the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), finding, opening and expanding markets for the high-quality food, fuel, feed, and fiber that our farmers and ranchers produce,” Higgins said. “We’ve done so by focusing on what we call our ‘three pillars’ – trade policy, trade promotion, and trade capacity building and food security.”

Trade policy. In the trade policy arena, efforts to break down barriers and pursue export opportunities resulted in new or expanded market access for numerous US farm products in 2017, including beef and rice to China, poultry and eggs to South Korea, rice to Colombia, chipping potatoes to Japan, distillers dried grains to Vietnam and China, and new biotech corn and soybean varieties to China.

In addition, FAS’s worldwide staff assisted US exporters in releasing hundreds of shipments, valued at more than $27 million, that were detained at foreign ports. This ensured that perishable US products, ranging from poultry in Turkey, to almonds in Spain, to cheese in Chile, to crabs in China, to eggs in Japan, made it to their final destinations safely.

Trade promotion. As part of its ongoing efforts to help US agribusinesses expand their global reach, FAS organized international trade missions to Egypt, Brazil and India in 2017. These missions generated more than $30 million in projected 12-month sales for the participating US companies.

In addition, FAS coordinated the participation of nearly 1,000 US companies and organizations in 20 USDA-endorsed trade shows in 14 countries, resulting in reported on-site sales of nearly $300 million and 12-month projected sales estimated at more than $2.35 billion.

Trade capacity building and food security. Looking at potential trade opportunities in emerging markets, FAS international fellowship and exchange programs enabled 712 foreign researchers, policymakers and agricultural specialists from 55 lower- and middle-income countries to work alongside US mentors and trainers this year, acquiring knowledge and skills to help build their countries’ agricultural sectors and increase their ability to engage in global trade.

Finally, through FAS food assistance programs, more than 277,000 tons of US commodities were provided to help meet nutritional needs and support agricultural development and education for an estimated 4.8 million beneficiaries in 25 food-insecure countries.

In 2018, Higgins said, “FAS staff members in Washington and 93 worldwide offices are redoubling their commitment to opening and expanding export markets and breaking down trade barriers for US farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.”