US Ag Secretary Announces $200 Million To Promote U.S. Food And Agricultural Products Overseas
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced $200 million worth of funding to 67 U.S. trade organizations to promote U.S. agricultural products overseas.
"USDA supports efforts to reach out to consumers around the world to demonstrate the high quality and variety of American food products," said Johanns. "The importance of trade is highlighted by predictions of a fourth straight year of record agricultural exports, which have become a critical part of the revenue portfolio for producers. USDA will continue to help our farmers and ranchers gain access to growing global markets."
Once final numbers are tallied, U.S. agricultural exports for fiscal year 2006 are expected to be $68 billion, up from the previous record of $62.5 billion last year. Fiscal year 2007 exports are expected to reach $72 billion—setting yet another record.
The fiscal year 2006 allocations announced today will be administered under the Foreign Agricultural Service's Market Access Program (MAP). The MAP uses funds from USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities with U.S. agricultural trade organizations, state regional groups, and cooperatives. Activities conducted with MAP funding include market research, consumer promotions for retail products, and seminars to educate overseas customers.
Allocations include $5,116,061 to Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and $406,886 to The Catfish Institute. See below for full list:
Market Access Program Allocations - Fiscal Year 2006
| MAP Participant FY 2006 | Allocations |
| Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute | $5,116,061 |
| American Forest & Paper Association | $12,197,854 |
| American Peanut Council | $1,973,810 |
| American Seed Trade Association | $13,482 |
| American Sheep Industry Association | $395,713 |
| American Soybean Association | $4,623,364 |
| Blue Diamond Growers/Almond Board of California | $2,327,044 |
| Brewers Association | $195,282 |
| California Agricultural Export Council/Western Growers Association | $1,426,335 |
| California Asparagus Commission | $240,835 |
| California Cherry Advisory Board | $537,580 |
| California Cling Peach Board | $419,070 |
| California Kiwifruit Commission | $138,449 |
| California Pear Advisory Board | $480,170 |
| California Pistachio Commission | $1,298,037 |
| California Prune Board | $1,824,791 |
| California Strawberry Commission | $874,105 |
| California Table Grape Commission | $5,793,964 |
| California Tomato Commission/Florida Tomato Committee | $684,906 |
| California Tree Fruit Agreement | $2,689,884 |
| California Walnut Commission | $4,440,311 |
| Cherry Marketing Institute | $188,861 |
| Cotton Council International | $16,702,650 |
| Cranberry Marketing Committee | $1,806,608 |
| Distilled Spirits Council | $93,196 |
| Florida Department of Citrus | $3,869,511 |
| Food Export USA Northeast | $6,620,306 |
| Ginseng Board of Wisconsin | $114,754 |
| Hawaii Papaya Industry Association | $64,494 |
| Hop Growers of America | $38,912 |
| Intertribal Agriculture Council | $484,299 |
| Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council | $8,046,096 |
| Mohair Council of America | $128,723 |
| National Association of State Departments of Agriculture | $2,713,554 |
| National Confectioners Association | $1,311,062 |
| National Dry Bean Council | $1,236,347 |
| National Honey Board | $206,145 |
| National Potato Promotion Board (USA Potato Board) | $6,091,366 |
| National Renderers Association | $860,149 |
| National Sunflower Association | $982,636 |
| National Watermelon Promotion Board | $174,090 |
| New York Wine and Grape Foundation | $329,322 |
| Northwest Wine Promotion Coalition | $752,413 |
| Organic Trade Association | $301,896 |
| Pear Bureau Northwest | $2,967,351 |
| Pet Food Institute | $1,493,158 |
| Raisin Administrative Committee | $2,378,825 |
| Southern United States Trade Association | $8,265,669 |
| Sunkist Growers, Inc. | $3,613,372 |
| Texas Produce Export Association | $87,145 |
| The Catfish Institute | $406,886 |
| The Popcorn Board | $271,737 |
| U.S. Apple Association | $811,697 |
| U.S. Dairy Export Council | $5,528,848 |
| U.S. Grains Council | $7,711,058 |
| U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council | $217,452 |
| U.S. Livestock Genetics, Inc. | $1,630,893 |
| U.S. Meat Export Federation | $18,089,139 |
| U.S. Wheat Associates | $6,299,107 |
| USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council | $879,266 |
| USA Poultry and Egg Export Council | $4,953,751 |
| USA Rice Federation/U.S. Rice Producers Association | $4,667,954 |
| Washington State Fruit Commission | $650,280 |
| Washington Apple Commission | $4,082,167 |
| Welch's Food | $1,017,074 |
| Western United States Agricultural Trade Association | $13,057,609 |
| Wine Institute | $6,751,256 |
| Reserve | $3,359,868 |
| TOTAL | $200,000,000 |
