(graphic credit: Kansas Agri-Women)
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ Newly released figures show Kansas agricultural exports grew by 35 percent last year to set a record high. The U.S. Agriculture Department's Foreign Agricultural Service reports more than $3.68 billion in farm exports from Kansas in 2011. The Kansas Department of Agriculture says the previous state record of $3.06 billion was set in 2008. Kansas Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman says in a news release Thursday that the numbers show just how important agriculture is to the state. Total exports in Kansas grew 17 percent to $11.68 billion. Agriculture accounted for nearly 32 percent of the state's total exports.