USDA dishes out $100 million for agricultural trade promotion
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the release of $100 million in fiscal 2007 allocations to 67 trade groups to promote trade in U.S. agricultural products.
The USDA's Market Access Program (MAP) uses Commodity Credit Corp. funds to enter into agreements with U.S. agricultural trade groups, state and regional organizations, and cooperatives to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities.
MAP is administered by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. Program applicants undergo a competitive review process based on weighted criteria, such as the degree to which the applicant contributes resources to the program, historic export performance, projected export goals, and accuracy of past export goals. MAP recently eliminated multiyear funding to improve program efficiency and to align program years with fiscal years, the USDA said.
U.S. agricultural groups receiving more than $1 million from MAPs this fiscal year include the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, American Forest & Paper Association, American Soybean Association, Blue Diamond Growers/Almond Board of California, California Dried Plum Board, California Pistachio Commission, California Table Grape Commission, California Walnut Commission, Cotton Council International, Florida Department of Citrus, Food Export Association of the Midwest USA, Food Export USA Northeast, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Pear Bureau Northwest, Raisin Administrative Committee, Southern United States Trade Association, United States Potato Board, U.S. Dairy Export Council, U.S. Grain Council/North American Export Grain Association, U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. Wheat Associates, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, USA Rice Federation/U.S. Rice Producers Association, Western United States Agricultural Trade Association, and Wine Institute.