Ag Exports on the Rise - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

A growing population has more countries depending on North Dakota for their food.

Heather Ranck is an International Trade Specialist for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Ranck says she has new companies approaching her everyday who want to send their products overseas.

North Dakota exports more than 14-hundred products--totaling nearly 3.5 billion dollars a year.

Wheat, tractors, seeders and planters are in the top ten of our state's exports.

(Heather Ranck / U.S. Dept. of Commerce) "It's Africa, it's Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Brazil. it's all over the world because the population keeps growing and their diets are changing in countries as they get wealthier. Food needs are changing and people are eating more.

Ranck says the future of North Dakota sending more Ag products overseas looks positive for years to come.

(Heather Ranck / U.S. Dept. of Commerce) "The market is definitely there. People's diets are changing. Especially in Asia, India, china and brazil. Countries that are increasing in their incomes. They want to eat a more western diet. So it's a matter of us grabbing that market share."

Ranck says she is hosting visitors this week from Romania who are meeting with farmers, machinery companies and professors because they want to learn how we grow corn in the Midwest.

Canada is our number one export destination.