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Even before ban, Russia was declining market

The general reaction to Russia’s ban on U.S. ag imports is that, while it’s unfortunate, it’s not going to have a significant impact on U.S. farmers and ranchers.

Nebraska Senator and former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns says exports to Russia aren’t what they once were.

“Exports nationally to Russia have been going down—2013 was less than the year before,” Johanns says. “I think that’s Putin’s practices—they’ve been an unreliable trading partner.”

Nebraska Farm Bureau president Steve Nelson says Russia’s ban shouldn’t have much impact on Nebraska agriculture.

“We really don’t do a lot of trade with Russia right now,” Nelson says. “I’m sure there are a few areas—I think dry beans might be affected more than some other areas—but it’s probably not a surprise, under the circumstances, that this is happening.”

In all, U.S. ag exports to Russia amount to about 1.2 billion dollars a year, with about a third of that being meat and poultry exports.  Soybean exports to Russia last year were valued at about 157 million dollars.

The Nebraska Radio Network contributed to this story.

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