RAPP to aid export market development

U.S. poultry and egg exports to benefit from new market development program

USDA announced today that it will invest $1.3 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) in a new export promotion and foreign market development program called the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). The funds will help U.S. food and agricultural producers develop new markets and create trade opportunities around the globe.

The funds come at the request of Senate Agriculture Committee chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Senator John Boozman. They urged USDA to provide additional program funds in the absence of a new Farm Bill. Members of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) have been urging Congress to double funding for export programs in the next Farm Bill.

USAPEEC President & CEO Greg Tyler applauded the news, saying, “USAPEEC and the industries we represent will greatly benefit from this tremendous program.”

Tyler noted that on an annual basis USAPEEC utilizes funding from the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development program to carry out programs in 75 countries around the globe, but that the level of that funding has been fairly flat for a number of years.

“This new infusion from USDA will allow USAPEEC to expand programs in a number of growth markets and to continue to pursue new markets for U.S. poultry and egg producers and traders,” Tyler said.

“USAPEEC’s recent return on investment studies have shown that these programs return over $25 in net export revenue for every dollar invested, making these some of the most effective government programs out there. They are critical to growth in U.S. poultry and egg exports and in the long-term viability of producers.”