USDA Establishes $1.3 Billion Regional Agricultural Promotion Program
October 25, 2023On October 24, 2023, USDA announced that it would invest $1.3 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds in a new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) to create trade opportunities around the globe for American agriculture. USAEDC member organizations welcomed the news with a series of statements applauding USDA for this effort.
Jim Sutter, CEO of U.S. Soybean Export Council and USAEDC Chair:
“It takes a village to nourish people, our planet and drive economic growth sustainably. Export development investments add approximately $45 billion annually in U.S. economic output. I thank USDA for the new Regional Agricultural Promotional Program, their continued leadership and commitment to investing for impact.”
Alicia Rockwell, Chief Government Affairs Officer for Blue Diamond Growers:
“Opening and accelerating markets is essential to sustaining California almond growers, who face some of the highest agriculture production costs in the country. Trade programs like RAPP help to strengthen industry investments leading to longer, more robust promotions to stimulate consumption.”
Greg Tyler, President and CEO of USA Poultry and Egg Export Council:
“This new infusion from USDA will allow USAPEEC to expand programs in a number of growth markets and to continue to pursue new markets for U.S. poultry and egg producers and traders.”
Betsy Ward, President and CEO of USA Rice:
“USA Rice applauds the effort to increase funding for promotion and food aid that would not only benefit the U.S. rice industry but many people abroad as well. While welcome news for all of agriculture, this approach is temporary and should not replace program changes that are needed for longer-term certainty in the Farm Bill, including an increase in the rice reference price in the Price Loss Coverage program, the rice farmer’s safety net, and a permanent funding increase for the export promotion and food aid programs.”
Krysta Harden, President and CEO of U.S. Dairy Export Council:
“Farmers, manufacturers and workers up and down the dairy supply chain benefit from expanded trade opportunities that help the industry thrive in today’s global economy. We’re thankful that USDA is taking this important step to support American Agriculture and appreciate Senators Stabenow and Boozman 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. We look forward to continuing to work together to level the playing field for America’s dairy farmers and producers.”
Ryan LeGrand, President and CEO of U.S. Grains Council:
“The U.S. Grains Council thanks Secretary Vilsack and the USDA for continuing to promote market development through providing a new program funding source. The success of the Council would not be possible without its partners in both the public and private sector, and we look forward to expanding exports of corn, sorghum, barley and their co-products with this new source of funding, however, there is still a need to increase long-term funding of the MAP and FMD programs in a new farm bill.”
Dr. Martin Sieber, President and CEO of U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc.:
“This is very much a welcomed effort by USDA and the Congress to put U.S. agriculture first. We appreciate this infusion of market development funds to promote the world’s highest quality livestock genetics and live breeding animals.”
Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of U.S. Meat Export Federation:
“USMEF thanks Secretary Vilsack and the staff at USDA for prioritizing international market development by making these funds available through the Commodity Credit Corporation. The USDA Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program have a proven track record of providing excellent, value-added returns to U.S. producers, and more recently the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) helped U.S. agriculture overcome trade obstacles and develop new markets. With ATP funding coming to the end, new investments in foreign market development are very timely and much appreciated. We also thank Congressional leaders for their support of this program and for their continued support of MAP and FMD funding.”
Michael Peters, U.S. Wheat Associates Chairman:
“USW demonstrated that the additional funding helped us protect crucial wheat export sales in established markets and build a base for growth in new markets. We appreciate the introduction of the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), and the USW team will work very hard to use it effectively. 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 for established Farm Bill export development programs are the best way forward.”