USDA provides $141 million to promote American ag products abroad

USDA provides $141 million to promote American ag products abroad    The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide more than $141 million in funding to about 70 U.S. trade groups to help them promote American agricultural products overseas.
   The fiscal year 2005 allocations announced June 21 will be administered under the Foreign Agricultural Service’s Market Access Program and Quality Samples Program.
   The Market Access Program uses funds from USDA’s Commodity Credit Corp to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities with U.S. agricultural trade groups, state and regional organizations, and cooperatives. Activities associated with this program include market research, consumer promotions for retail products, and seminars to educate overseas buyers.
   Sixty-eight U.S. trade groups received Market Access Program funds. The largest recipients are the U.S. Meat Export Federation ($12 million); Cotton Council International ($10.8 million); American Forest & Paper Association ($7.7 million); Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council ($7.6 million); Southern United States Trade Association ($5.6 million); American Soybean Association ($5.1 million); and U.S. Grain Council ($5.1 million).
   USDA said the Quality Samples Program funds help create export sales by promoting awareness of U.S. agricultural products among new overseas buyers. The program provides samples of agricultural commodities, which are used in workshops to help train overseas importers on the benefits of U.S. agricultural products.
   Seventeen trade groups were earmarked to receive funds under this program. Some of the biggest recipients of Quality Samples Program funds are U.S. Wheat Associates ($421,800); American Sheep Industry Association ($340,000); National Potato Promotion Board ($305,000); and Mohair Council of America ($118,000).