Minnesota Agriculture Exports Up $900 Million

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture reports that Minnesota exported $900 million more in agricultural products in 2010 than the year before.

The department reports Friday that the exports totaled $5 billion in 2010, up from $4.1 billion in 2009.

It's the second time since 2008 agriculture exports have reached $5 billion in Minnesota. Agriculture is Minnesota's second largest exporting sector with major markets in China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada.

Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson says about one-third of Minnesota's total agricultural production is exported.

Soybeans, corn, wheat, red meat, dairy and poultry were the top export commodities, accounting for 90 percent of the state's total agricultural exports.

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