Secretary Perdue attends his first international ag event in Canada on Monday
Jun 07, 2017
WASHINGTON, DC -- Twelve members of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) representing a broad cross-section of agricultural groups met yesterday with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to discuss the future of USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) programs. President Trump's 2018 budget completely eliminates funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD).
The group, that included USA Rice's President and CEO Betsy Ward, pointed out that USDA Export Market Development programs continue to achieve what Congress intended when they were created: U.S. agricultural exports have increased in value and volume to more than $150 billion annually, support 1.1 million full-time U.S. jobs, and have contributed substantially to farm income, boosting the overall U.S. economy.
USA Rice is one of 80 agricultural organizations now utilizing the MAP and FMD program funds that have helped open new markets at a time when agriculture exports account for one-third of total farm sector gross earnings in 2017.
Ward noted that even at existing funding levels, $200 million for MAP and $34.5 million for FMD, the U.S. has fallen way behind global competitors in terms of government support for export promotion activities.
"I had the opportunity to elaborate on how, as one of the most sensitive and protected commodities in the world, rice relies heavily on the FAS overseas staff as our boots on the ground when there is a trade dispute or trade disruption. The sale last week of rice to Iraq is just the most recent example of how the partnership works in practice," she said.
Ward touched on another value of the FAS programs: industry unity.
"These programs unite an entire industry behind a single strategy that brings a lot of concentrated firepower to the marketplace. It keeps rice aligned and speaking with one voice in support of USDA's trade policy and strategic objectives of increasing exports," she explained.
Ward said these programs work for U.S. agriculture for several reasons, including the public/private partnership that leverages MAP/FMD funds with industry contributions. She said USA Rice members contribute seven dollars for every dollar of FAS money allocated.
The programs are also results and outcome based, making them easily evaluated.
And, finally, cooperator programs, representing all 50 states and thousands of farms and agri-businesses, unite behind one coherent strategy executed against other regions/countries that, in some cases, have more resources.
Secretary Perdue was impressed with the metrics and results the group provided and recognized that, with the programs' matching requirements, every ag group has "skin in the game." Perdue encouraged continued USAEDC efforts to educate Congress about the programs' value.
"Secretary Perdue has already demonstrated to us that he is a great proponent of trade," said Ward. "We appreciate being given a forum to explain why the FAS programs and partnership with industry is critical to our future success in exporting rice."