This week Senators Angus King (I-ME), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the “Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act” to boost two federal programs critical for expanding global access to U.S. agricultural export. The CREAATE Act would increase the funding for the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) from $34.5 million to $69 million annually and the Market Access Program (MAP) from $200 million to $400 million.
The National Corn Growers Association again praised the introduction today of the CREAATE Act as the public-private partnerships, MAP and FMD, together are responsible for 15 percent of U.S. agricultural export revenue—$309 billion since 1977.
“MAP and FMD are critical programs for building and expanding global markets for American agricultural exports. We must increase investment in these programs,” said Wesley Spurlock, a Texas farmer and president of NCGA. “These programs deliver a strong return on investment. Every $1 invested in MAP and FMD generates $28 in exports—that means more American jobs, and more money coming into our communities. Now more than ever, we need to invest in export and market development programs like these to build global demand and help farmers’ bottom lines.”
Funding for MAP and FMD has not kept pace with inflation, administrative costs, the growth of the global marketplace, or the investments other countries have made in their own export promotion. The FMD program is also under threat to lose its baseline funding when the farm bill expires in 2018.
“With the United States exporting 50% of its wheat, a strong trade agenda is essential for growing and opening new markets for wheat growers abroad.
“The Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program have proven to have excellent return on investment and increase the global demand for wheat while raising farm income here at home, said National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule. “These programs provide the U.S. agricultural community with the tools needed to retain its edge in an increasingly competitive global economy.”
On May 03, 2017, Congressmen Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced the companion bill, CREAATE Act (HR 2321), in the House.
