Wednesday, July 17, 2013

USAPEEC awarded nearly $6 million from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

    The USA Poultry & Egg Export Council will receive close to $6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service. About $4.8 million will come from the Market Access Program, while nearly $1.2 million has been allocated through the Foreign Market Development Program for the 2013 fiscal year.
    The funds received from the two Foreign Agricultural Service programs will account for about half of the USAPEEC annual budget, with the remainder of the funds coming from the industry and from grants from U.S. corn and soybean groups that support USAPEEC's efforts, said Toby Moore, USAPEEC vice president of communications.
    "The funds from the Market Access Program enable us to conduct generic marketing promotions for U.S. poultry, eggs and processed egg products in more than 75 countries, as well as open and develop new markets," said Moore. "Foreign Market Development funds enable us to operate our 13 international offices."
    The U.S. Meat Export Federation was also a recipient of Foreign Agricultural Service funds. The U.S. Meat Export Federation was selected to receive about $14.7 million through the Market Access Program and $1.1 million through the Foreign Market Development Program.
    Under the Market Access Program, the Foreign Agricultural Service will provide $172.7 million to 70 nonprofit organizations and cooperatives. Market Access Program participants contribute an average 171-percent match for generic marketing and promotion activities and a dollar-for-dollar match for promotion of branded products by small businesses and cooperatives. Under the Foreign Market Development Program, the agency will allocate $25.4 million to 26 trade organizations that represent U.S. agricultural producers. The organizations, which contribute an average 183-percent cost share, will conduct activities that help maintain or increase demand for U.S. agricultural commodities overseas.
    "Through the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development and other market development programs, USDA helps U.S. agricultural organizations, representing thousands of producers and businesses, open and expand international markets for U.S. agricultural exports," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said when the allocations were announced on July 10. "Ultimately, these efforts are helping achieve President Obama's National Export Initiative goal of doubling all U.S. exports by the end of 2014." 

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