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Increase in funding for market development programs would be good for farmers

The American Soybean Association is supporting proposed bipartisan legislation that would increase funding for market development programs.

ASA President and Illinois farmer Ron Moore says the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Ag Trade and Exports Act (CREAATE) would double funding for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development program. He says funding increases to those programs would add to the US economy and help ensure US farmers can compete in the global market.  “Trade in overseas markets is what agriculture profitable,” he says.

AUDIO: Ron Moore, American Soybean Association

Michigan apple and cherry grower Chris Alpers says programs like MAP help level the playing field for all US growers.  “It allows us to compete with countries with a much lower cost of production such as China and Chile,” he says.  “The MAP program is a public/private partnership with growers contributing $2 for every federal dollar the industry receives.”

He says a recent study shows MAP’s return on investment is 24 to 1.

The CREAATE Act would phase in additional annual funding for MAP to $400 million in 2023 and add $69 million of annual funding to FMD in 2023.

The proposed legislation is sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse (R) of Washington and Chellie Pingree (D) of Maine.