Members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports are urging leaders of the House Committee on Agriculture to follow in the steps of the four senators who have introduced a bill to increase funding for USDA export programs in the new farm bill.

In a Sept. 19, 2017 letter to Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-TX), and Ranking Minority Member Collin Peterson (D-MN), coalition members urged that funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) be increased to $400 million annually and funding for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program be increased to $69 million annually. The coalition called for phasing in the additional funding over the life of the next farm bill.

"We are requesting increased MAP and FMD funding because the programs have proven their value, with impressive return on investment, and because producers and the rural economy are struggling in part because of international competition," said Mark Powers, president of Northwest Horticultural Council and chairman of the coalition.

MAP and FMD are cost-share programs. Overall, producers and other participants contributed matching funds representing 70% of total program funds in 2016. Federal MAP funding has been apportioned at an annual level of $200 million since 2006 and FMD at its annual level of $34.5 million since 2002. Since then, inflation and a depreciated U.S. dollar have reduced the promotional power of that funding almost 30%. Sequestration and USDA administrative expenses have also significantly reduced annual program funding.

"There is opportunity for growth in those overseas markets and industry members have increased their export promotion investment. Yet the real, effective value of funding from our federal partner has steadily eroded even as competitors greatly outspend us," Powers said.

The letter offered strong data comparing the funding level of the U.S. to some of its competitors, citing a major study completed in 2013 on behalf of several U.S. agri-food export market development organizations. It found that in 2011, 12 countries and the European Union (EU) central government spent an estimated $1.8 billion, including $700 million in public funds and $1.1 billion in private funds, on export promotion for agri-food products. Compared to agricultural production value, the U.S. public spending on export market development is among the lowest relative to these twelve nations. 

Results from a 2016 econometric study give quantifiable rationale for increased funding, Powers said. Commissioned by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) as required by Congress and conducted by Informa Economics IEG, working with Texas A&M University and Oregon State University economists, the study showed MAP and FMD boosted U.S. agricultural export volume and revenue, protected and created American jobs, and increased farm income. 

Specifically, the study concluded that return on investment of MAP and FMD between 2002 and 2014 was $24 in export gains for every additional $1 spent on foreign market development, consistent with results from several previous studies. Plus, an average annual increase in farm income of $2.1 billion and creation of 239,000 new full and part-time jobs was attributed to MAP and FMD activities during this time frame.

"Every analysis of these programs shows that increased federal funding for MAP and FMD will generate a profitable return to the agricultural and rural economies," Powers said. "There is no doubt that these programs are highly successful public-private partnerships worth the increased investment. We look forward to working with the House Agriculture Committee and its leaders to increase export opportunities for hard-working American farmers, producers and small businesses."

Source: Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports