TABLE 3.-U.S. AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS: VALUE BY COMMODITY, CALENDAR 1974-77

Significant as U.S. farm exports are, they account for only about one-fifth of the total foreign trade of the nation. However the U.S. agricultural trade surplus (agricultural exports minus agricultural imports) contributed $10.6 billion to the Nation's balance of payments in fiscal year 1977 (Table 4).

The agricultural trade balance slipped by $1.6 billion in 1977 due to a sharp rise in the value of imported agricultural products. Most of the increase was the result of higher prices for tropical products-cocoa, tea, spices and coffee.

U.S. exports by country of destination and imports by country of origin are shown in Table 5 and Table 6. The U.S. net agricultural trade balance with major trading partners can be calculated from these tables.

State export shares

All States had a share in U.S. agricultural exports, but the 10 largest producers accounted for about 60 percent of the total value in fiscal year 1977. The leading States, in descending order, were Illinois, Iowa, California, Texas, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio and Minnesota (Table 7).1

Illinois is the largest single exporter of farm products accounting for $2,539 million, more than a tenth of the total in 1977. Illinois contributed an estimated 19 percent of the feedgrains, soybeans, protein meal and soybean oil exporter. Illinois is also an important exporter of meat products and wheat.

1 The values for U.S. agricultural exports shown for States should not be interpreted as actual measurements of State origins of national exports. It is difficult to accurately identify State origins for exported commodities. The statistics on exports by States were based on domestic shares for commodities according to each State's share of the total national production.

TABLE 5.-AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS: VALUE BY COUNTRY OF DESTINATION, TOTAL AND SPECIFIED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, YEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 1974-76

[In millions of dollars]

Outside

Govern

Govern

Govern

Govern

Total

ment

cultural

cultural

cultural

1 Not adjust d for transshipments through Canada and Western Europe. 2 Includes sales for foreign currency donations for disaster relief and economic aid, donations through voluntary relief agencies, and long-term credit sales, under Public Law 83-480 (the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended), and other legislation. Also includes the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

3 "Agricultural exports outside specified Government-financed programs" (sales for dollars) include in addition to unassisted commercial transactions, shipments of some commodities with governmental assistance in the form of (1) barter of overseas procurement for U.S. agencies, (2) extension of credit and credit guarantees for relatively short periods, (3) sales of Government-owned commodities at less than domestic market prices, and (4) export payments in cash. Source: Agricultural Statistics, USDA, 1977, p. 582. Economic Research Service

TABLE 6.-AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION: VALUE BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, UNITED STATES, YEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 1974-76

1 Supplementary agricultural imports products consist of all products similar to agricultural commodities produced commercially in the United States, together with all other agricultural products interchangeable to any significant extent with such U.S. commodities. Complementary agricultural products include all others, about 98 percent of which consist of rubber, coffee, raw silk, cacao beans, wool for carpets, bananas, tea, and vegetable fibers.

2 Less than $50,000.

3 Totals may not add due to rounding.

Source: Agricultural Statistics, USDA, 1977, p. 583. Economic Research Service. Compiled from reports of the U.S. Department of Commerce.