Dollar for dollar, exports contribute 10.4 times more income to the farm economy than direct government payments. As of 2016, exports generated $134.7 in ag income. Direct government payments totaled $13 billion. Exports are more important than government payments for 49 states.
Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to impose tariffs and regulate foreign commerce. This is an essential power that Congress should reclaim and use to prevent damaging trade policies that hurt farmers and taxpayers.
Ongoing trade uncertainty is a serious threat to the farm economy. Stabilizing our precarious trade environment is the most important step Congress can take on behalf of farmers.
| 2016 ag exports divided by government payments | |
| Alabama | 7.2 |
| Alaska | 0.9 |
| Arizona | 13.1 |
| Arkansas | 6.1 |
| California | 88.9 |
| Colorado | 6.7 |
| Connecticut | 34.8 |
| Delaware | 14.7 |
| Florida | 48.8 |
| Georgia | 6.5 |
| Hawaii | 29.7 |
| Idaho | 11.6 |
| Illinois | 7.5 |
| Indiana | 7.1 |
| Iowa | 9.8 |
| Kansas | 7.6 |
| Kentucky | 16.4 |
| Louisiana | 4.7 |
| Maine | 13.4 |
| Maryland | 14.8 |
| Massachussetts | 21.2 |
| Michigan | 13.6 |
| Minnesota | 11.0 |
| Mississippi | 5.7 |
| Missouri | 8.2 |
| Montana | 5.3 |
| Nebraska | 8.2 |
| Nevada | 1.5 |
| New Hampshire | 1.3 |
| New Jersey | 47.1 |
| New Mexico | 9.7 |
| New York | 13.4 |
| North Carolina | 19.4 |
| North Dakota | 8.1 |
| Ohio | 7.8 |
| Oklahoma | 5.1 |
| Oregon | 13.1 |
| Pennsylvania | 25.1 |
| Rhode Island | 22.6 |
| South Carolina | 7.6 |
| South Dakota | 8.3 |
| Tennessee | 12.7 |
| Texas | 6.4 |
| Utah | 9.5 |
| Vermont | 9.9 |
| Virginia | 16.6 |
| Washington | 17.3 |
| West Virginia | 4.2 |
| Wisconsin | 10.9 |
| Wyoming | 7.6 |
| United States | 10.4 |