Outspent on Exports

I remember talking with former Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack as he was leaving that job and announcing his plans to lead the US dairy export Council. "Probably more than any other aspect of agriculture, dairy producers are working 365 days a year, 24/7. so they are hard-working, they care deeply about the industry and about their families and their farms so I am excited about this opportunity because I am working for and with people I like.” Noble statement but according to The latest analysis of foreign export promotion program investment shows that several competing countries and the European Union spent close to $1 billion in public funds on agricultural export promotion in 2016, outspending the United States 4 to 1. That is an increase of 70 percent in real competitive public spending since 2011*. U.S. public funding for the two largest agricultural export promotion programs is about $235 million per year and its real value has declined by 12 percent since 2011*. The conclusions echo results of three similar competitive studies since 2013. This study was commissioned by Wine Institute and other agricultural associations and conducted by Informa Economics, IEG, with Market Access Program funding.