USDA analysts have once again lowered their expectations for U.S. agricultural exports this fiscal year. In August, USDA forecasted exports to reach roughly $138 million. That forecast was revised in December to $131 million. USDA now predicts exports will total $125 million, down more than 10 percent from last year. USDA economist Rob Johansson says one-third of the decline is because of reduced sales to China. Other factors include lower grain and feed export prices along with strong competition and weaker world demand.

The FBI is warning agriculture is a target by foreigners engaged in “economic espionage.” At USDA’s Agriculture Outlook Forum, the FBI said the agency has “a strategic partnership program” to combat the issue and officials were distributing a pamphlet that called agricultural economic espionage “a growing threat” and said foreigners may steal “intellectual property.” The FBI says foreigners engaged in the act are targeting US companies, universities and government research facilities.

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