Virginia agricultural exports up 27 percent last year

Virginia exports of soy, meats and other agricultural goods increased by 27 percent to top US$2 billion last year, driven by a weak dollar and a global hunger for US farm products.

According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the value of exported Virginia-grown or processed agricultural products totalled US$2.22 billion in 2008, up from US$1.74 billion over the previous year.

The increase reflects total US farm exports in 2008, which were up more than US$30 billion, to US$115.5 billion.

In Virginia, field crops such as soy, corn and wheat accounted for almost US$1.2 billion in exports that headed to markets as diverse as Egypt, Switzerland, Morocco, China, Jamaica and dozens more.

The remainder of the states exports included meat and poultry, valued at US$302 million.

Virginia agriculture officials said Wednesday (Mar 18) that the top export destinations for the state were Canada, the primary buyer of US farm products, and Egypt.

Todd P. Haymore, commissioner of the agriculture department, credited the state's diverse farm products, its busy Hampton Roads port and department efforts for the increased exports.