The U.S. set new value records for ag exports last year by shipping $177 billion worth of products, shattering the previous record of $151.2 billion set in 2014 by nearly 15%, according to final numbers published last week by the Commerce Department.

Records were set in corn, soybean, pork, beef, dairy and biodiesel exports, according to the report. The United States’ top 10 export markets all saw gains in 2021, with six of the 10 — China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines and Colombia —...