P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

May 29, 2012

1 Min Read
USDA Announces MAP Improvements

 

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announced changes to the Market Access Program (MAP) that will streamline its requirements to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.  Changes announced include:

·         Streamlining application and planning requirements under FAS’ Unified Export Strategy;

·         Specifying the types of activities eligible for reimbursement under the program;

·         Documenting operational procedures for MAP projects promoting branded products;

·         Requiring program participants to establish fraud prevention programs;

·         Revising processes for evaluation, contracting, compliance review and appeals.       

The MAP program helps non-profit U.S. agricultural trade associations, farmer cooperatives, non-profit state-regional trade groups and small businesses promote U.S. agricultural commodities and products overseas.  The program will need to be reauthorized in the farm bill.

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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