The United States exports a large portion of its farm products to other countries.
For example, U.S. farmers are the world’s leading exporters of corn, in 1999 they sold more than one fifth of the corn they grew to other countries.
The United States is the world’s second largest exporter of wheat, the countries of the European Union are the first, and it is the third-largest exporter of rice, behind Thailand and Vietnam.
Almost half of the world’s people earn their living on farms or in farm related activities.
But in the United States, fewer than 3 of every 100 people work on farms.
Most U.S. farms today are large commercial enterprises that use the latest equipment and technology.
As a result, they are highly efficient and productive.
