Ag Exports Trailing Last Year’s Figures

In the first quarter of this fiscal year 2018, U.S. agricultural exports are off compared to the same time period last year.  Exports totaled to $50.7 billion this year, that's off $3 billion from last year.  USDA Trade Analyst Bryce Cooke says the decline is due mainly to soybeans.

"Down $3.3 billion on their own," said Cooke.

He added Brazil has been selling a lot of beans to China, but he says he does not believe this is in retaliation to announced U-S trade sanctions.

"This data that we were talking about only goes through the end of January, which was really before there was even any talk of these steel and aluminum tariffs, so that wouldn't even be reflected," said Cooke.

Instead, he believes it is a huge Brazilian crop being marketed and impacting the U.S. market share.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com