The Decline in U.S. Agricultural Exports

Agriculture has always been a showpiece of American technology, efficiency, and productivity growth. Less than 3 percent of U.S. workers are engaged in farming, yet our farms produce enough to feed our population, to add to domestic surpluses, and to export enormous quantities. Agricultural exports have made major contributions to our merchandise trade balance, accounting for about one-fifth of total U.S. exports in the last 25 years.