USDA Awards $212 Million in Export Market Support to Farm Groups

USDA recently announced awardees for two of its export support programs, the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program and the Market Access Program (MAP). Both programs are cost-share partnerships that help U.S. producers build and maintain a competitive presence in the global marketplace.

This year, Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) will allocate more than $31 million under the FMD program to 18 trade organizations representing U.S. ag producers. Through MAP, FAS will provide more than $181 million to 68 organizations and cooperatives.

FMD funding is up $4 million compared to 2025, while MAP funding is more than $9 million higher year-over-year.

“USDA’s market development programs support private sector capital to help promote U.S. food, fuel, and fiber to foreign buyers,” said Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg in the department’s stakeholder notice. “Partnering with industry ensures that these resources are deployed efficiently and effectively, and that decisions are farmer driven.”

Among the top recipients of funding were the American Soybean Association (ASA), the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), and the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC). Here’s a look at their reactions to the export support funding.

American Soybean Association

ASA was awarded more than $7.8 million from the FMD program, the most of any awardee, and more than $6.8 million from MAP.

“The FMD and MAP programs are essential tools that enable American soybean farmers to compete and succeed in the global marketplace, " said Stephen Censky, ASA CEO. “Through our partnerships with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, ASA strategically leverages these resources to build long-term capacity and demand for U.S. soy around the world.”

“These program investments are vital for helping U.S. Soy sustain and expand global market opportunities by building partnerships, addressing customer needs, and delivering the transparency and sustainability that international buyers value,” said Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO. “We are grateful to USDA-FAS for championing U.S. agricultural export trade efforts around the world.”

U.S. Meat Export Federation

USMEF was awarded $910,485 from the FMD program and just over $14 million from MAP, the most of any awardee.

“With outstanding support from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, MAP and FMD are essential programs for developing new destinations for U.S. products — including U.S. pork, beef, and lamb — and for defending U.S. agriculture’s market share worldwide,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “These programs have a proven track record of delivering critical returns for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and the entire red meat supply chain. USMEF greatly appreciates our inclusion in the programs, and we look forward to further expanding global demand for U.S. red meat in the year ahead.

U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council

USGBC was awarded nearly $4 million from the FMD program and$8.62 million from MAP.

“Our job at the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council is to open new markets for our farmers, ranchers, and producers, and both MAP and FMD annual allocations allow us to meet our mission to develop markets, enable trade, and improve lives for those around the world and here at home,” said USGBC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand in a press release. “We thank President Trump and his administration, specifically USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Under Secretary Luke Lindberg, for these funds that allow our organization to develop global markets and promote exports of our corn, sorghum, barley, ethanol, and co-products.”

EDITOR’S TAKE:

The FMD and MAP programs may be two of the most impactful funding sources at USDA. They provide matching funds with a large number of commodity organizations and agricultural producer funded checkoff programs. The recipients are audited and held accountable for each dollar. Credible results must be presented, or funding is either reduced or eliminated in subsequent years. These organizations do help promote U.S. products overseas that result in actual sales. I have personally witnessed these programs in action and can attest to their success.

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