USDA Awards $200 Million for Agricultural Trade Promotion Program

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $200 million to 57 organizations through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) to help U.S. farmers and ranchers identify and access new export markets. The ATP is one of three USDA programs created to mitigate the effects of unjustified trade retaliation against U.S. farmers and exporters. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) accepted ATP applications between September 4 and November 2 – totaling nearly $600 million – from U.S. trade associations, cooperatives, and other industry-affiliated organizations. USDA has released a list of the ATP funding recipients.

President Donald J. Trump authorized up to $12 billion in programs to provide assistance to U.S. agriculture through a trade mitigation package announced by Secretary Perdue on September 4, 2018. In addition to the $200 million allocated to the ATP, the package also included the Market Facilitation Program to provide payments to farmers harmed by retaliatory tariffs, and a food purchase and distribution program to assist producers of targeted commodities.

“At USDA, we are always looking to expand existing markets or open new ones, so we are proud to make good on the third leg of the President’s promise to America’s farmers,” said Secretary Perdue. “This infusion will help us develop other markets and move us away from being dependent on one large customer for our agricultural products. This is seed money, leveraged by hundreds of millions of dollars from the private sector, that will help to increase our agricultural exports.”

All sectors of U.S. agriculture, including fish and forest product producers, were eligible to apply for cost-share assistance under the ATP. FAS evaluated applications according to criteria that included the potential for export growth in the target market, direct injury from the imposed retaliatory tariffs, and the likelihood that the proposed project or activity will have a near-term impact on agricultural exports.

“We were pleased to see the large demand for participation in the program, and truly got some out-of-the-box ideas that we are hopeful will expand our global footprint,” Perdue said. “We examined all applications carefully, considered our ranking criteria, and awarded the funds in order to make the best use of taxpayer dollars in growing agricultural trade.”

Participant	Funding
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute	$5,497,860
Almond Board of California	$3,185,690
American Hardwood, Plywood, Softwood, and SFPA	$4,977,165
American Peanut Council	$1,922,015
American Pistachio Growers	$1,715,000
American Seed Trade Association	$1,375,000
American Soybean Association	$21,882,165
Blue Diamond Growers	$3,715,000
Brewers Association, Inc.	$678,640
California Agricultural Export Council	$176,215
California Cherry Marketing and Research Board	$394,440
California Fresh Fruit Association	$267,565
California Olive Committee	$103,135
California Pear Advisory Board	$140,690
California Prune Board	$1,122,195
California Strawberry Commission	$577,140
California Table Grape Commission	$2,856,830
California Walnut Commission	$1,612,440
Cal–Pure Produce Inc.	$1,715,000
Cotton Council International	$9,174,190
Cranberry Marketing Committee	$1,139,450
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States	$815,000
Florida Department of Citrus	$550,000
Food Export Association of the Midwest USA	$13,859,825
Food Export USA Northeast	$13,890,275
Ginseng Board of Wisconsin	$526,390
Intertribal Agriculture Council	$272,640
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture	$249,295
National Confectioners Association	$698,940
National Potato Promotion Board	$3,670,860
National Renderers Association	$546,690
National Watermelon Promotion Board	$50,000
New York Wine and Grape Foundation	$371,000
Northwest Wine Promotion Coalition	$2,165,000
Organic Trade Association	$547,085
Pear Bureau Northwest	$564,170
Pet Food Institute	$30,000
Raisin Administrative Committee	$990,245
Southern United States Trade Association	$12,592,090
Sunkist Growers, Inc.	$546,690
The Popcorn Board	$150,000
U.S. Apple Export Council	$196,515
U.S. Dairy Export Council	$5,288,194
U.S. Dry Bean Council	$1,465,265
U.S. Grains Council	$13,944,690
U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association	$1,375,000
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council	$259,953
U.S. Meat Export Federation	$17,556,680
U.S. Pecan Growers Council	$1,325,010
U.S. Wheat Associates	$8,249,315
USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council	$1,513,985
USA Poultry and Egg Export Council	$1,361,735
USA Rice Federation/US Rice Producers Association	$3,770,725
Washington Apple Commission	$8,457,600
Washington State Fruit Commission	$709,203
Western United States Agricultural Trade Association	$7,422,920
Wine Institute	$9,789,190
Grand Total:	$200,000,000