In its outlook for U.S. agricultural trade report released last week, the U.S. Department of Ag­­riculture (USDA) raised its forecast for livestock, poultry and dairy exports in 2015.

The USDA forecast livestock, poultry and dairy product exports at $33.7 billion, up $800 million. The larger forecast factored in higher meat prices and larger volumes of pork and broiler exports.

Agricultural exports in 2015 are forecast at $143.5 billion, down $9 billion from 2014, the USDA said. The forecast is down $1 billion from the August forecast as a result of lower prices for bulk commodities, the report noted.

Grain and feed exports are forecast at $29.9 billion, down $1.2...