U.S. Beef Exports Sets New Records & Connect Unserved Americans

**U.S. beef exports greatly exceeded previous volume and value records in 2021, surpassing $10 billion for the first time.

According to year-end USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation, December beef exports totaled over 121,000 metric tons, up 1% from a year ago, while value climbed 33%.

The results pushed 2021 volume to 1.44 million mt, up 15% from a year earlier and 7% above the previous record set in 2018.

Export value soared 38% from 2020 shattering the previous record by 27%.

**Overall U.S. Agriculture posted its highest annual export levels ever recorded in 2021.

The final trade data published by the Department of Commerce shows exports of U.S. farm and food products totaled $177 billion.

The total beat 2020 figures by 18% and eclipsed the previous record set in 2014, by 14.6%.

**A group of agriculture-state lawmakers have introduced the Connect Unserved Americans Act.

The bipartisan legislation seeks to ensure the USDA targets funding through the ReConnect Program to areas most in need of reliable broadband services.

Additionally, it would enhance the coordination between federal agencies disbursing broadband funding to prevent the overbuilding of existing broadband networks at the taxpayer's expense.