WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating a second round of $300 million to 67 U.S. organizations, under the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), to build demand for American food and farm exports in high-potential markets around the globe. USA Rice received $6.8 million in this round, adding to the $6.25 million received from RAPP 1 earlier this year (see
USA Rice Daily, May 21, 2024).
RAPP is a critical tool in helping encourage U.S. exporters to expand beyond traditional and established markets, looking to emerging markets where consumer demand and purchasing power are growing. The $1.3 billion program was first announced in October 2023 at the request of Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry leaders, John Boozman (R-AR) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) (see
USA Rice Daily, October 24, 2023).
“This allocation of funds couldn’t come at a better time, as we are waiting for a Farm Bill extension which includes the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development programs – the backbones of our export promotion efforts,” said Steve Vargas, chair of the USA Rice International Promotion Committee. “Since half of our rice production is exported, expanding export markets is vital to the strength of the U.S. rice industry.”
USA Rice also received an additional $300,000 of RAPP funding on behalf of the California Wild Rice Advisory Board and the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council to promote U.S. wild rice in conjunction with those organizations. Cooperators have until 2030 to spend these additional funds.