With 96 percent of the world’s consumers living outside America’s borders, export markets are essential for American farmers &045; and for Minnesota farmers in particular. Minnesota ranked seventh among all agricultural exporting states in 2001, sending abroad $2.3 billion in agricultural products.

International markets will only become more important in the years to come, as experts predict much of the growth in food demand will take place outside the U.S.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has worked over the years to develop markets for Minnesota agricultural products in promising regions of the world such as Latin America and Asia. We have operated in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Ag Service (FAS), the Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council (MIATCO) and the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development (recently renamed the Department of Employment and Economic Development), as well as with individual farmers and farm organizations.

In 2003, the state legislature returned lead authority for international agricultural marketing efforts to the MDA. This transfer of authority means the MDA will now have primary responsibility for helping the state’s farmers and agribusinesses identify prospective international markets and aggressively develop those markets. These duties will be performed by the MDA’s Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) Division. The MDA will also now serve as your primary connection to MIATCO and its activities funded through the USDA’s Market Access Program.

The MDA will work with our partners such as MIATCO and Minnesota farmers and agribusinesses to uncover and develop promising markets for Minnesota corn, soybeans, pork, beef, poultry, dairy products, wheat, vegetables, sunflowers, specialty crops and processed foods.

We realize our success will depend not only on our own effort, but also on our ability to partner with allies at the state and national level. We also realize that as we go about this process, it is important to get input from the farmers and agribusinesses we intend to serve. With that in mind, we will soon be establishing a formal system for getting feedback on international marketing initiatives and prioritization. In the meantime, if you have suggestions for us, please share them with my office by calling (651) 297-3219 or by e-mail with AMS Director Kurt Markham at kurt.markham@state.mn.us.

We are excited about this opportunity to serve the state’s farm and food sector. Minnesota has a proud record of providing high-quality agricultural products to a hungry world. We look forward to working with you to boost agricultural exports even higher.

(Gene Hugoson is commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Editor’s note: Tony Trow, who writes a Monday column for the Tribune, is on vacation.)