Domestic & International Marketing Program

Who We Are and What We Do

The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Domestic and International Marketing Program provides a variety of marketing services and has successfully linked Missouri’s producers of processed foods, including meat and poultry; food ingredients; feed ingredients; identity preserved grains; forest products; purebred livestock; and other ag-related products to buyers throughout the U.S. and around the globe, resulting in millions of dollars and increased market exposure. Located right in the heart of America, Missouri is home to three Foreign Trade Zones, served by every Class 1 railroad, and can move goods across North America in any direction. Home to an extensive river infrastructure, Missouri has efficient and unhindered movement of goods to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond year-round. With exports being a profit center for Missouri’s farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses, Missouri is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of growing populations around the world because of its superior infrastructure and diverse agricultural landscape.

Shipping Container Ship in Harbor
Shipping Containers on Train
Shipping Containers in storage

Request an Export Certificate

We provide your agricultural company (must be headquartered in Missouri or have a manufacturing facility in Missouri) with Certificates of Free Sale, Certificates of Health and Sanitary and other export documentation required by the importing country. We ask that you fill out our request form, attach the supporting documentation, and submit it to our Agriculture Business Development Division. Please allow up to five business days for processing.

Marketing Assistance Resources

Missouri agricultural companies interested in expanding, both domestically and internationally, have access to a number of resources. The Domestic and International Marketing Program has dedicated marketing specialists who provide tailored marketing assistance through the following services:

  • Education & Outreach – We generate trade reports, speak at industry events, and conduct company visits to aide Missouri’s agricultural companies in their export success as well as for our staff to learn more about Missouri’s ag industry.
  • Buyer Searches – We work with a network of partners in our foreign office in Taiwan, USDA-Foreign Ag Service offices, in-market representatives at our national associations and the Department of Economic Development’s foreign offices to locate ideal and legitimate buyers of your agricultural products.
  • Trade Leads – We receive trade leads from our Taiwan Office, foreign buyers, partners and memberships every day. Please reach out to our team to learn about these opportunities.
  • Market Research – We utilize several ag-related databases and our partners to provide expert advice and factual examination of research on new markets for your products, foreign regulations and tariffs/duties on your export shipments, and much more.
  • Export Documentation Issuance – We provide your agricultural company (must be headquartered in Missouri or have a manufacturing facility in Missouri) with Certificates of Free Sale, Certificates of Health and Sanitary, and other export documentation required by the importing country.
  • Trade Missions – We organize business-to-business meetings, facility tours and networking opportunities for Missouri agricultural companies interested in exporting their products. These services are coordinated for both our trade missions to foreign countries as well as buyers’ missions to Missouri.
  • Domestic Trade Shows – We offer booth space sponsorships to Missouri agricultural companies at domestic trade shows.
  • International Trade Shows – We offer shared booth space and the ability to showcase product samples and promotional materials to Missouri agricultural companies at international trade shows.
  • Financial Assistance – We work with colleagues at MASBDA, USDA Rural Development, SBA, Export-Import Bank, G-MAP, MO STEP=UP and other financial lending authorities to find financial assistance for your new business venture, business expansion, and domestic and international marketing activities.

National Trade Association Memberships

Commodity Councils

The Missouri Department of Agriculture works closely with commodity councils to facilitate their council elections as a third party. Commodity councils in Missouri have been established for products such as aquaculture, beef, corn, rice, sheep, soybeans and wine. Missouri’s commodity councils work to improve the profitability of their producers. The funds are used by each council for research, marketing materials and special promotional events.

Producer voter registration for upcoming beef commodity council elections. Learn more ...
Producer voter registration for upcoming sheep merchandising council elections. Learn more ...
Producer voter registration for upcoming soybean commodity council elections. Learn more ...

For commodity council information, contact Jennifer Kliethermes at (573) 751-5611 or Jennifer.Kliethermes@mda.mo.gov.

Missouri Aquaculture

Missouri’s Aquaculture Program promotes aquaculture production to customers in both domestic and international markets. Missouri fish production includes warm and cold water species, bait, ornamental, food fish, and fish for stocking. In addition, several Missouri companies provide supplies or services that support the industry. For more information on aquaculture organizations in Missouri, please visit the Missouri Aquaculture Association’s website.

Missouri's Top 10 Agricultural Exports

Top 10 Agriculture Exports 2025
Corn $450,670,000
Soybeans $331,726,000
Pork & Pork Products $278,096,000
Dog & Cat Food $232,838,000
Forest Products $203,186,000
Other Feeds & Fodders $201,643,000
Soybean Meal $163,462,000
Dairy Products $104,479,000
Bakery Goods, Cereals, & Pasta $94,175,000
Condiments & Sauces $60,490,000
Total Missouri Agricultural Exports $2,583,422,000

Missouri's Top 10 Agricultural Partners

Ag Export Partners

Additional Resources