USDA has awarded $100 million to 48 organizations through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program to help U.S. farmers and ranchers identify and access new export markets.
In May, President Trump authorized USDA to provide up to $16 billion in programs to support farmers, which is in line with the estimated impacts of unjustified retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods and other trade disruptions. ATP is one of three programs that will assist agricultural producers.
“At USDA, we are always looking to expand existing markets or open new ones and this infusion of money will do just that,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said.
The 48 recipients are among the cooperator organizations that applied for $200 million in ATP funds in 2018 that were awarded earlier this year. As part of a new round of support for farmers impacted by trade disruption, those groups had the opportunity to be considered for additional support for their work to boost exports for U.S. agriculture, food, fish, and forestry products.
Among the recipients:
- American Soybean Association has received $34 million in two allocations, $21 million in January 2019 and $12 million in July 2019.
- U.S. Meat Export Federation has received $27 million, with $17 million in January and $10 million in July.
- Food Export Association of the Midwest USA has received $20 million in two allocations, $13 million in January and $6 million in July.
- Food Export USA Northeast has received $20 million, with $13 million in January and $6 million in July.
- U.S. Grains Council has received $20 million, with $13 million in January and $6 million in July.
Since the $200 million in assistance was announced in January, U.S. exporters have had significant success, including a trade mission to Pakistan that generated $10 million in projected 2019 sales of pulse crops, a new marketing program for Alaska seafood that led to more than $4 million in sales of salmon to Vietnam and Thailand, and a comprehensive marketing effort by the U.S. soybean industry that has increased exposure in more than 50 international markets.