The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $480 million to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous and strengthen global food security through its two premier international food assistance programs, McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress. These programs rely on and support American farmers, ranchers, and producers who generously share their bounty with the world, and open key markets for American businesses.
For the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, USDA is providing $240 million in Fiscal Year 2025 funds to purchase U.S. commodities to support six projects in five countries. Through Food for Progress, USDA is providing an additional $240 million in Fiscal Year 2025 funds to purchase U.S. commodities to support eight projects in six countries.
Under both programs, USDA purchases U.S.-grown commodities from American farmers and producers and provides them to implementing organizations. McGovern-Dole partners will utilize 56,170 metric tons of U.S. grown packaged commodities, a 50 percent increase from 2024, which will be used to provide critical school meals to vulnerable communities in Benin, Honduras, Mozambique, Pakistan, and Senegal.
Food for Progress implementing organizations will sell 361,000 metric tons of U.S. grown commodities, a 12 percent increase from 2024, in foreign markets and use the proceeds to provide critical support to remove trade barriers, increase imports of crops for agricultural inputs for American business, and ensure market access for American products in Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Nepal.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
The programs used to purchase and distribute commodities produced here in America can help farmers/ranchers finance next year’s production and simultaneously open markets overseas. Programs like those mentioned in the article also help those less fortunate in several countries and help create demand for U.S. grown products.
USDA will soon be announcing other measures it will use, including distribution of tariff funds, to support farmers/ranchers who are caught in the middle of a trade dispute between the U.S. and China. China has indicated officially that it is ready and willing to purchase U.S. agricultural products when the dispute ends. In the interim, stay focused on the farmers/ranchers in your area. Pay particular attention to those with livestock and dairy operations since they are in the best condition financially at the moment.
