Agriculture is also benefitting directly from the rebounding economic strength of China and other emerging market economies, where rapid income growth is driving up food demand. The United States remains a net exporter of agricultural products, shipping more than 40 percent of its wheat, cotton, soybeans and rice crops to foreign countries in 2010.
United States crop and meat exports are expected to rise to record highs in 2011. Looking out a little further, economists expect global growth to exceed 4 percent well into 2012, with the developing and emerging market economies remaining in the lead. Rapid income gains in the developing world promise further increases in demand for higher-protein diets.