Idaho Ag Exports May Set A Record In 2021

Idaho’s value of Ag exports could be on pace to set another record this year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, $778 million worth of agricultural products were exported out of Idaho through the end of September. According to the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, that was an 11% increase during the same time period in 2020. And that $778 million puts the state on track to set a record for Ag exports this year, moving past the previous record of $1.02 billion set back in 2014.

The quarterly Census Bureau data shows that the value of Idaho ag exports is up substantially this year in most of the state’s top markets. Dairy remained Idaho’s top Ag commodity exported, totaling $148 million through the first nine months of this year, a 7% year-over-year increase. Exports of beef and veal from Idaho totaled $192 million, while exports of animal feed totaled $143 million.

Canada is by far the top destination for Idaho ag exports, totaling $253 million in the first nine months of this year; a 30% jump over 2020 numbers. Mexico, the #2 destination for Idaho products, topped out at $161 million, during the same time period, up 13% year over year. The #3 market for Idaho, China, imported $58 million worth of Ag products, up 11%, while the #5 market, Netherlands, took in $43 million of Idaho Ag products, a 50% jump from 2020.

The news wasn’t all good, with exports to Japan dropping by 23%, and Korea by 32%.

Idaho plant product exports totaled $1.56 billion in 2020 while animal product exports totaled $754 million.

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