Colorado’s agricultural exports – led by beef, hides, dairy, grains and processed foods – reached $967 million in the first nine months of 2011, a 23 percent increase over the same period last year.
“This is great news for Colorado producers,” said Commissioner of Agriculture John Salazar in a statement released today. “Governor Hickenlooper has been a big supporter of these efforts and we look forward to developing additional markets in the future.”
Colorado exported beef to 34 countries, with edible beef leading the state’s agricultural exports with a value of $524.3 million, a 24 percent increase over 2010. Exports of hides climbed 22 percent to $172 million and dairy climbed 9 percent to $41.1 million. The state’s exports of grains climbed 95 percent to $26 million.
Exports to Canada climbed 34 percent to $175.4 million, earning the state the top national ranking in beef exports to Canada. Colorado beef exports to Russia climbed 41 percent to $31 million. Colorado is ranked No. 2 nationally in beef exports to Russia, supplying 16.4 percent of all US beef.
Other results for Colorado’s agricultural exports include:
