US Ag Exports Climbing - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Our nation sets a new record in the number of cows sent overseas.

USDA Under Secretary Edward Avalos (Ava-los) says this year's live cattle exports reached an all time high of 162-thousand head.

He says most of those animals are in Turkey and Russia and in our neighboring countries Canada and Mexico.

(Edward Avalos / Deputy Ag Secretary) "Our total exports were at record volume of 137 billion. Resulting in 43 billion dollar trade surplus, which is phenomenal. It's a very, very bright spot in our nation's economy and it also represents 1.2 million jobs." 

Avalos is worried how high input costs and a nationwide drought is impacting producers across the country.

He says a farm bill needs to be passed as soon as possible to stimulate the economy and keep our producers in business. 

(Edward Avalos / Deputy Ag Secretary)"I personally feel that it's not fair to the producer. It's not fair to the agricultural sector. It's not fair to rural America that Congress cannot step up to the plate and pass a Farm Bill as soon as possible." 

Avalos says the US also set a new record in sending the most cattle at one time overseas.

That shipment of 6,000 head of cattle from Galveston, Texas, took 48 hours just to process.