The American Soybean Association (ASA) strongly supports new legislation from Reps. Dan Newhouse and Chellie Pingree to double funding for the MAP and FMD programs though the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act.
"The MAP and FMD programs are two of the most impactful USDA export promotion programs for soybean producers across the country," said ASA President and Illinois farmer Ron Moore. "The proposed increase to these market development programs through the CREAATE Act will provide an enormous return on investment for America's agricultural community and the U.S. economy as a whole, and will ensure our continued ability to compete in the global marketplace."
The $150 billion in U.S. agricultural exports that occurred in 2014 produced an additional $190 billion in economic activity for a total of $340 billion of economic output. This supported 1.1 million full time U.S. civilian jobs, including 800,000 in the non-farm sector required to assemble, process and distribute agricultural products for exports.
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