$234 million for US agri export programs

The allocations were provided under the Market Access Program
(MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program
(FMD).

MAP uses funds from the USDA’s
Commodity Credit Corp. to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional
activities with US agricultural trade organizations, state and regional groups,
and cooperatives. Activities conducted with MAP funding include market research,
consumer promotions for retail products, and seminars to educate overseas
customers. $199.55 million was allocated for the MAP activities. Biggest
recipients in the farm animal (and feed) related sector were:

• American
Soybean Association ($7.85 million).
• US Dairy Export Council ($4.05
million).
• US Grain Council ($7.3 million).
• US Meat Export Federation
($13.7 million).
• US Wheat Associates ($4.2 million).
• USA Poultry and
Egg Export Council ($4.4 million).

Trade promotion
Through the
FMD program, USDA establishes a trade promotion partnership with non-profit US
agricultural trade organizations. Program activities focus on reducing market
barriers, improving processing capabilities of importers, modifying restrictive
regulatory codes and standards in overseas markets, and identifying new markets
or uses for US products.

The FMD program distributed $34.5 million in
fiscal year 2007. The largest recipients were in the farm animal (and feed)
sector were:

• American Soybean Association ($7.38 million).
• US
Grains Council ($4.68 million).
• US Meat Export Federation ($1.68
million).
• US Wheat Associates ($5.68 million).
• USA Poultry and Egg
Export Council ($1.5 million).
• USA Rice Federation ($1.67
million).

US agricultural exports for fiscal
2007 are expected to reach $79 billion, making 2007 the fourth record year in a
row. For fiscal year 2008 export are again expected to increase to $83.5
billion, USDA said.

Related website:
USDA