MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is hoping to build on one of the few bright spots in the struggling American economy when he talks trade in Vietnam and China this week.

U.S. agricultural exports are projected to reach a record $137 billion this year and hit that same mark next year. The U.S. agricultural trade surplus is expected to top $42 billion. And new free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama are expected to boost farm exports another $2.3 billion.

Vilsack says there are several reasons farm exports are doing so well: demand in China and other nations with growing middle classes, the growing productivity of American farmers, a positive perception of American agricultural products overseas, and aggressive marketing efforts by farm groups and the USDA.