Red meat and poultry exports accounted for a 15% share of total production in 2015, while dairy exports commanded an 18 percent share of total production. Red meat and poultry exports as a share of production were down from the previous five-year average, due to factors including a stronger dollar, a slowing global economy and restrictions on poultry exports stemming from the 2015 US highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak.
Dairy exports as a share of production grew in 2015, relative to the previous five-year average, up 18% in total. Production of red meat and poultry is expected to increase in 2016, while exports are forecast to increase by an even greater amount. Dairy production is also expected to increase in 2016, but exports are expected to decline.