Over 140 agricultural organizations are urging the House and Senate appropriations committees to support and maintain full funding for USDA’s vital export programs, the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program and the Market Access Program (MAP). 

In a letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations leadership, the members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports said that “Exports are a vital part of the U.S. economic engine, and agricultural exports continue to be among its strongest components.” 

A study by HIS Global Insight, commissioned by USDA, found that for every additional $1 expended by government and industry on the FMD and MAP programs resulted in an additional $35 in agricultural exports, a 35 to 1 return on investment. 

U.S. agricultural exports are estimated to reach $142.6 billion this fiscal year.  Organizations signing the letter included the American Meat Institute, American Soybean Associations, Dairy Farmers of America, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Producers Council, and USA Rice Federation. 

The FMD and MAP programs were reauthorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.