Four straight years of farm export records for Idaho

By Sean Ellis

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

POCATELLO – Idaho has set a record for total value of agricultural exports for four straight years.

Considering that much of the farm products produced in Idaho are exported to other nations, that’s a good sign for the state’s ag industry.

A total of $1.34 billion worth of farm products from Idaho were exported to other nations in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. That eclipses, by 14 percent, the previous record of $1.18 billion set in 2023.

Idaho also set records for ag export value in 2022 ($1.13 billion) and 2021 ($1.02 billion).

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. ag exports in 2024 increased 1 percent compared with 2023.

Dairy was the state’s top agricultural export in 2024 at $282 million, which was an 11 percent increase over 2023.

“This increase was consistent with overall dairy price changes, with the value of … milk prices higher by more than 11% in 2024 versus the prior year,” said Doug Robison, the Idaho president for AgWest Farm Credit. “Volume gains were likely modest with most of the increase coming from stronger pricing.”

According to the Census Bureau data, which was crunched and provided by Idaho State Department of Agriculture, $200 million worth of Idaho farm products under the “prepared vegetables” category were exported in 2024, a 29 percent increase over 2023.

“Food processing capacity within the state has been increasing and this was reflected in the strong year-over-year gains of 28.8% in the (prepared) category,” Robison said.

Idaho exported $156 million worth of products in the “edible vegetable” category, up 30 percent from 2023.

The prepared and edible vegetable categories are both heavy on potatoes, Idaho’s top crop.

Live animal exports continued to soar, reaching $133 million in 2024, up 40 percent from $95 million in 2023.

“Live animals were the single strongest category with more than a 40% increase, supported by ongoing strength in the cattle market,” Robison said.

Idaho sold $129 million worth of farm products in the “oilseeds, etc.” category, a 6 percent increase over 2023. This category includes miscellaneous grain, seed and fruit.

According to the Census Bureau data, Canada remained the top destination for Idaho ag exports, as farm product exports to that nation in 2024 totaled $421 million, a 10 percent increase over 2023.

Idaho ag export value to Mexico increased 6 percent, to $260 million, and Gem State ag export value to South Korea was up 42 percent, to $74 million.

Idaho ag export value to Japan increases slightly, to $70 million, and it rose 32 percent to the Netherlands, going from $47 million in 2023 to $62 million in 2024.

A separate set of data released annually by USDA in the fall shows Idaho set ag export value records in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The Census Bureau data is based on what state a commodity is exported from, so it doesn’t capture all of Idaho farm product exports. For example, it wouldn’t capture the wheat from Idaho that is exported out of Portland.

The USDA data, which shows Idaho sold $2.89 billion worth of ag products in 2022, captures more of the state’s farm exports but is not as timely as the Census Bureau data, which is released monthly.

However, both sets of data track closely when it comes to percentage increases and decreases.

The USDA data for 2023 was due to be released in November but still hasn’t been released yet. However, USDA has released data for fiscal year 2024 that shows top ag exports by state.

The federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30 of the following year.

That USDA data shows Idaho exported $382 million worth of dairy products to the world in fiscal 2024 (Oct. 1, 2023 – Sept. 30, 2024).

It also shows that $258 million worth of “processed vegetables” were exported from Idaho in fiscal 2024.

The USDA data shows $142 million worth of live animals were exported from Idaho in fiscal 2024, as well as $74 million worth of “planting seeds” and $70 million worth of products listed under the “food preparations” category.