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Nevada produces and exports agricultural products. In 2007, the state's farm
cash receipts totaled $552 million. Exports in 2007 were estimated at $43
million. Agriculture is important to Nevada's economy. It creates jobs on farms
and also supports jobs in related sectors, such as food processing,
transportation, and manufacturing.
Nevada's top agricultural exports in 2007 were:
planting seeds -- $19 million
vegetables – $13 million
wheat and products - $4 million
feeds and fodders -- $3.3 million
World demand for agricultural products is increasing, but so is competition
among suppliers. If Nevada's industries are to compete successfully for export
opportunities in the 21st century, they need fair trade and more open
access to growing global markets.
How Trade Agreements Benefit Nevada Agriculture
Under the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, Nevada’s vegetable industry
will benefit. Australia’s 5-percent tariff would be eliminated on a number of
U.S. vegetable exports including potatoes (fresh, dried and flakes) and spinach.
From 2001 through 2003, U.S. suppliers annually shipped on average $21.5 million
worth of vegetable and vegetable products to Australia.
Nevada benefits from NAFTA, under which Mexico converted its import licensing
system for corn to a transitional tariff-rate quota that will remain in effect
until 2008. Under this system, the volume of U.S. corn exports to Mexico has
risen over 42 percent since 1994, reaching 120 million bushels valued at $585
million in 2002.
Export Success Stories
USDA's market development funding through the Western
U.S. Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA)
and the states of Nevada and Washington sponsored five companies to participate
in a trade show promoting food ingredients to food manufacturers in Guatemala,
Costa Rica and El Salvador. Each company met with 5-10 food processors in each
country; close to $250,000 of sales were generated by this trade mission, with
$3.5 million projected in new sales for the first year.
A joint Market Access Program (MAP) funded project between Nevada and
Washington State in April proved successful for 10 companies looking to do
business in Asia. Headed by the Washington Department of Agriculture and the
Nevada Commission on Economic Development, the group led the companies to two
additional trade missions to Malaysia and the Philippines. Organizers set
appointments for foreign buyers and American sellers as well as arranged for
educational tours of the markets. On site sales topped to $150,000 and sales for
the next 12 months are estimated at $2.1 million. The companies made excellent
contacts and received valuable insight into the market.