USDA spends $234 million to promote ag exports

USDA spends $234 million to promote ag exports    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has dispersed more than $234 million across 70 trade organizations in fiscal year 2009 to help promote American food and agricultural products overseas.
   “Agricultural trade is absolutely crucial to the U.S. economy and by providing this funding to U.S. organizations during these difficult economic times will help open new global markets for American food products,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in an announcement at the annual convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting this week.

Vilsack

   The funding was allocated under the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program, both administered by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
   The biggest recipients of this funding are the American Forest & Paper Association ($10.95 million), Cotton Council International ($20 million), Food Export Association of the Midwest USA ($11.1 million), Southern United States Trade Association ($7.1 million), U.S. Grain Council ($8.4 million), U.S. Meat Export Federation ($15.9 million), USA Poultry and Egg Export Council ($5.3 million), Western United States Agricultural Trade Association ($10.8 million), and Wine Institute ($7.2 million).