Published 1:30 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2023
USDA is directing $2.3 billion to maintain and develop foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and address global hunger.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday announced USDA will use funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation to fund:
• $1.3 billion for the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program and support for specialty crop industries to diversify export markets.
• $1 billion to purchase U.S. agricultural commodities for international emergency food aid programs through USAID.
Agricultural groups were quick to issue statements expressing their appreciation to USDA and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders who requested the funding in late August.
“Now more than ever, the U.S. dairy industry relies on exports,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation.
“If distributed to those sectors that are presently underfunded such as dairy, the new export promotion funding will put us in a better position to compete globally and grow our consumer base,” he said.
U.S. Dairy Export Council is thankful for this important step to support American agriculture, said Krista Harding, USDEC president and CEO.
USDEC also appreciates Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and John Boozman, R-Ark., for “elevating the importance of using CCC resources to fund programs that will strengthen the U.S. dairy industry through the creation of new markets and the promotion of nutritional dairy-containing products in food aid,” she said.
The U.S. Meat Export Council thanked Vilsack and USDA staff for prioritizing international market development by making CCC funds available, said Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO.
The USDA Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development programs have a proven track record of providing excellent, value-added returns to U.S. producers. More recently, the Agricultural Trade Promotion program helped U.S. agriculture overcome trade obstacles and develop new markets,” he said.
“With ATP funding coming to the end, new investments in foreign market development are very timely and much appreciated,” he said.
ATP was developed five years ago in response to the trade war with China. ATP funding expires next year.
Groups representing the U.S. wheat industry also expressed their appreciation for additional funding for market development and food assistance.
“Looking ahead, global wheat trade is increasingly competitive, and market development takes time and consistency. That’s why we believe that in the long term, increases in established farm bill export development programs are the best way forward,” said Michael Peters, chairman of the U.S. Wheat Associates board.
Additional funding for food assistance programs will help address the most urgent humanitarian needs in a generation, said Brent Cheyne, National Association of Wheat Growers president.
“As NAWG works with Congress to reauthorize the farm bill, we continue to advocate for strengthening the in-kind commodity donation program and additional investment in the existing trade promotion programs,” he said.
The Regional Agricultural Promotion Program will build upon the success of the ATP program, which is projected to generate $6.44 billion in farm cash receipts and nearly 14,780 jobs, said Ted McKinney, CEO of National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
“Simply put, this program is a win for farmers, ranchers and the American economy because it will increase income and create more jobs in the farm and food sector,” he said.
