Have you ever considered exporting? Since only 5% of the world’s consumers live in the United States, exploring this possibility can open a whole new world for your product. It may seem daunting but, fortunately, the U.S. Commercial Service, a part of the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce, is here to help. Having grown up on a dairy farm myself, I’ve returned to my roots to work as an International Trade Specialist in Fargo, and a significant part of my job is helping farm equipment companies sell their machinery all over the world. 

One recent example is our involvement in the Big Iron Farm Machinery Show International Visitor Program. Big Iron takes place every September, and the U.S. Commercial Service has cooperated closely with the North Dakota Trade Office since 2010 to bring in thousands of qualified international farm machinery buyers to view our locally made machinery. Many connections and transactions have emerged from these efforts over the years.

A unique aspect of the U.S. Commercial Service office in North Dakota is our emphasis and experience using market research tools to make exporting easier for companies. In 2020, we established a national Rural Export Center, which is based in Fargo. Since then, we have conducted over 200 in-depth market research reports for rural American exporters from 25 different states. 

Numerous companies have benefited from our research and services. For example, one western North Dakota company that has benefited from the U.S. Commercial Service’s support is Gooseneck Implement Company. Based in Minot, Gooseneck is dealer of new and used John Deere equipment, with 13 dealerships across western North Dakota. In May 2021, a company in Thailand contacted the U.S. Commercial Service office based at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok regarding a potential purchase of agricultural equipment from Gooseneck. In the end a deal was facilitated that created value both in Asia and the USA. It also helped to pave the way for future interactions and export sales for Gooseneck. 

The U.S. Commercial Service can also help companies to mitigate risk and find trustworthy partners. Located in Williston, Leonardite Products owns and operates a mine to extract and process leonardite, the major organic ingredient of soil which is used as a fertilizer additive and in oil drilling. Leonardite Products was approached by two Brazilian importers seeking to import leonardite. When the U.S. Commercial Service conducted due diligence checks on both importers, they noted several red flags on one of the importers but successfully vetted the other, which enabled Leonardite Products to make an informed decision and proceed with confidence.

These are just a couple examples of the ways in which the U.S. Commercial Service assists agricultural companies and helps them to succeed in international markets. We have numerous services designed to support exporters at every stage of the exporting process. To learn more about how we can support your business, visit our website at www.trade.gov/north-dakota-fargo, and check out our list of local success stories.