USDA expects U.S. agriculture exports to hit a record $79 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2007, only to be eclipsed by the FY '08 projected total of $83.5 billion. The previous record was last year's $68.6 billion.

The major growth areas are Asia and the Western Hemisphere, with China, Canada and Mexico being key growth markets for FY '08. China is now the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural products, USDA says.