By Andi Anderson
The approaching deadline for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) is Feb. 2. This program, established in November 2023, allocates $1.2 billion over five years to enhance U.S. agricultural exports. The first year has $300 million earmarked to support projects that facilitate entry into new markets or expand market share in existing ones.
In a related development, U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Adrian Smith (R-NB) have formed a congressional caucus dedicated to promoting agricultural trade. They are urging the Biden administration to engage in comprehensive trade agreements, while the administration has been emphasizing economic frameworks focused on climate change, supply chains, taxes, and labor rights.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) strongly supports USDA's efforts to boost agricultural trade. NPPC is urging congressional lawmakers to reauthorize and double the funding in the next farm bill for the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program, which have historically received $200 million and $34.5 million, respectively, each year. NPPC is advocating for the Biden administration to open new markets and expand existing ones for U.S. pork through comprehensive trade agreements.
The significance of these efforts lies in the fact that the U.S. pork industry heavily relies on exports. In 2023, pork exports are expected to exceed $8 billion, contributing to over 25% of total pork production and adding over $60 to the price producers receive for each marketed hog.
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Categories: Ohio, Business, Government & Policy, Livestock, Hogs