2014 Funding Supports More than 60 Organizations; Applications Now Available for 2015 Export Development Programs WASHINGTON, April 16, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) awarded funding to more than 60 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand commercial export markets for American products. The funding was made available through the 2014 Farm Bill. USDA will begin accepting applications for 2015 export development program funding on April 17, 2014.
"Now that Congress has passed the Farm Bill, USDA is moving quickly to implement our trade promotion programs to help open and expand opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and small businesses and build on the past five years of record agricultural exports," said Vilsack. "These programs are an important investment in rural America. Every dollar we invest in trade promotion provides $35 in economic benefits." Through the Market Access Program (MAP), FAS partners with U.S. agricultural trade associations, cooperatives, state regional trade groups and small businesses to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities that help build commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products and commodities. The program, which focuses on consumer promotion, including brand promotion for small companies and cooperatives, is used extensively by organizations promoting fruits, vegetables, nuts, processed products, and bulk and intermediate commodities. Through MAP, FAS will provide $171.8 million to 62 nonprofit organizations and cooperatives. Participants contribute an average 171-percent match for generic marketing and promotion activities and a dollar-for-dollar match for promotion of branded products by small businesses and cooperatives.
The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program focuses on trade servicing and trade capacity building by helping to create, expand and maintain long-term export markets for U.S. agricultural products. Under FMD, FAS will allocate $24.6 million to 22 trade organizations that represent U.S. agricultural producers. FAS partners with U.S. agricultural producers and processors, who are represented by non-profit commodity or trade associations called cooperators. The organizations, which on average contribute nearly triple the amount they receive in federal resources, will conduct activities that help maintain or increase the demand for U.S. agricultural commodities overseas.
Applications for 2015 export development program funding will be accepted beginning April 17, 2014. In addition to MAP and FMD programs, eligible organizations can apply for funding through the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program, Quality Samples Program (QSP) and Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The TASC program funds projects that address sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. The 2014 Farm Bill amended the program to allow participants to address technical barriers to trade regardless of whether they are related to a sanitary or phytosanitary barrier. QSP helps agricultural trade organizations provide product samples to potential importers. EMP provides funding for technical assistance activities to promote exports to emerging markets. The programs were authorized as part of the 2014 Farm Bill.
Applicants are encouraged to apply via the Unified Export Strategy online application system. Information is available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/unified-export-strategy. Applications can also be emailed to podadmin@fas.usda.gov or hand-delivered to: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Office of Trade Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 6512-S, Washington, D.C. 20250. New applicants are encouraged to email podadmin@fas.usda.gov to request more information. Applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number for federal assistance, which can be obtained online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by phone, (866) 705-5711.
USDA's international market development programs have had a significant and positive impact on U.S. agricultural exports. An independent study released in 2010 found that trade promotion programs like MAP and FMD provide $35 in economic benefits for every dollar spent by government and industry on market development.
The past five years represent the strongest period for U.S. agricultural exports in the history of the United States. Farm exports in fiscal year 2013 reached a record $140.9 billion and supported 1 million jobs in the United States.
The following chart summarizes this year's Market Access Program allocations: Market Access Program - 2014 Allocations Participant FY 2014 Allocation American Hardwood Export Council, APA - The Engineered Wood Association, Softwood Export Council, and Southern Forest Products Association $8,996,182 Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute $3,560,749 American Peanut Council $2,235,570 American Pistachio Growers/Cal-Pure Pistachios, Inc. $1,380,409 American Seed Trade Association $229,118 American Sheep Industry Association $421,340 American Soybean Association $4,523,434 American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute $200,000 Blue Diamond Growers/Almond Board of California $4,729,064 Brewers Association, Inc. $600,895 California Agricultural Export Council $1,228,525 California Cherry Marketing and Research Board $519,189 California Cling Peach Growers Advisory Board $444,892 California Grape and Tree Fruit League $428,800 California Pear Advisory Board $442,081 California Prune Board $2,668,406 California Table Grape Commission $3,093,070 California Walnut Commission $3,902,619 Cherry Marketing Institute $204,115 Cotton Council International $15,423,937 Cranberry Marketing Committee $1,561,170 Distilled Spirits Council $401,630 Florida Department of Citrus $3,885,364 Food Export Association of the Midwest USA $9,637,643 Food Export USA Northeast $8,138,985 Ginseng Board of Wisconsin $167,539 Hop Growers of America $310,320 Intertribal Agriculture Council $642,528 Mohair Council of America $45,759 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture $3,533,072 National Confectioners Association $965,826 National Pecan Growers Council $487,035 National Potato Promotion Board $3,647,427 National Renderers Association $871,872 National Sunflower Association $1,119,044 National Watermelon Promotion Board $290,367 New York Wine and Grape Foundation $484,886 Northwest Wine Promotion Coalition $988,092 Organic Trade Association $746,912 Pear Bureau Northwest $2,926,873 Pet Food Institute $1,361,288 Raisin Administrative Committee $827,922 Southern United States Trade Association $5,874,329 Sunkist Growers, Inc. $2,372,577 Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council $388,412 The Popcorn Board $369,806 U.S. Apple Export Council $712,727 U.S. Dairy Export Council $4,084,503 U.S. Dry Bean Council $1,147,741 U.S. Grains Council $6,731,882 U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association $49,548 U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. $1,538,250 U.S. Meat Export Federation $14,073,511 U.S. Wheat Associates $5,973,322 USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council $850,359 USA Poultry and Egg Export Council $4,952,183 USA Rice Federation/U.S. Rice Producers Association $2,735,162 Washington Apple Commission $4,930,752 Washington State Fruit Commission $1,561,810 Welch Foods, Inc. $834,411 Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association $8,097,508 Wine Institute $6,322,046 Total $171,874,788 The following chart summarizes this year's Foreign Market Development Program allocations: Foreign Market Development Program - 2014 Allocations Cooperator FY 2014 Allocation Almond Board of California $125,045 American Hardwood Export Council, APA - The Engineered Wood Association, Softwood Export Council, and Southern Forest Products Association $2,655,416 American Peanut Council $533,746 American Seed Trade Association $185,722 American Sheep Industry Association $123,798 American Soybean Association $5,198,548 Cotton Council International $3,199,712 Cranberry Marketing Committee $153,754 Leather Industries of America $210,730 National Renderers Association $682,463 National Sunflower Association $212,505 North American Millers Association $54,594 U.S. Dairy Export Council $442,188 U.S. Dry Bean Council $100,313 U.S. Grains Council $2,439,510 U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association $91,952 U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. $535,518 U.S. Meat Export Federation $1,081,750 U.S. Wheat Associates $4,176,733 USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council $157,661 USA Poultry and Egg Export Council $1,014,940 USA Rice Federation $1,267,187 Total $24,643,785 Visit www.fas.usda.gov to learn more about the Market Access Program, the Foreign Market Development Program and other FAS programs.
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Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
