State Officials: Wisconsin’s Annual Ag Exports Have Risen Again

The year 2014 marked the fifth year in a row Wisconsin’s agricultural exports have risen.

The state exported a record $3.7 billion of agricultural products in 2014, an increase of almost 14 percent compared to the same time period in the previous year, according to state officials.

Jen Pino-Gallagher, who directs the trade team at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, said demand overseas is driving the growth.

“We’re seeing more and more Wisconsin agricultural companies getting involved in exporting because they’re seeing that there is a growing demand internationally,” she said. “We’re also seeing some robust growth in some of our key markets.”

Pino-Gallagher said department officials hope to get even more agribusinesses involved in international trade. The department is scheduled to lead several trade missions to countries including China, Mexico and Columbia.