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By the early years of the new millennium, conditions in the agricultural economy began to gain new importance. Driven by increased demand for biofuels, shifting commodity markets, and the introduction of new crop varieties better suited to regional demands, plains farmers moved towards greater production of alternative crops, including soybeans and corn. This expansion has been led by agricultural exports. In 2011, the US exported a record $135 billion in ag products, with a net balance of $47 billion, the highest in nominal dollars since the 1980s.