USDA pumps $234.5 million into export promotion

USDA pumps $234.5 million into export promotion    The U.S. Department of Agriculture will allocate $234.5 million to 70 trade associations to help promote American food and agricultural products overseas.
   'When you consider the current global financial crisis, increasing production in key competitor countries and aggressive use of export promotion tools by our competitors, USDA's market development programs are more important than ever,' said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement on Tuesday.
   The funding was provided through the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program, both administered by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.

Vilsack

   The MAP uses funds from USDA's Commodity Credit Corp. to share the costs of overseas market development and promotional activities with U.S. nonprofit agricultural trade associations, state regional trade groups, and cooperatives.
   Some of the biggest recipients of $200 million in MAP funds for fiscal year 2010 include:
   ' Cotton Council International, $20.33 million.
   ' U.S. Meat Export Federation, $15.68 million.
   ' Food Export Association of the Midwest USA, $10.51 million.
   ' American Forest & Paper Association, $8.09 million.
   ' Food Export USA Northeast, $7.76 million.
   ' U.S. Grain Council, $7.39 million.
   ' Wine Institute, $7.04 million.
   ' Southern United States Trade Association, $6.42 million.
   ' U.S. Wheat Associates, $5.49 million.
   ' Florida Department of Citrus, $5.2 million.
   ' American Soybean Association, $5.17 million.
   ' National Potato Promotion Board, $5.15 million.
   ' USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, $5.13 million.
   ' Washington Apple Commission, $4.76 million.
   ' Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, $4.56 million.
   ' California Walnut Association, $4.55 million.
   ' U.S. Dairy Export Council, $4.28 million.
   Under the FMD program, USDA's Commodity Credit Corp. establishes a partnership with nonprofit U.S trade associations. Funding priority is given to organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership, the USDA said.
   The biggest recipients of the $34.5 million in FMD funding for fiscal year 2010 include:
   ' American Soybean Association, $6.83 million.
   ' Cotton Council International, $4.75 million.
   ' U.S. Grain Council, $4.03 million.
   ' U.S. Wheat Associates, $3.85 million.
   ' The American Forest & Paper Association, $3.29 million.
   ' U.S. Meat Export Federation, $1.73 million.
   ' USA Rice Federation, $1.54 million.
   ' USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, $1.52 million.