Extra funding could boost US beef exports
The US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has welcomed an announcement from the US Department of Agriculture regarding funding to help expand exports of agricultural products, including beef.
USMEF chief executive, Dan Halstrom, said funding secured last year under the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) was already helping to identify new opportunities for exports of US beef and other meats.
On August 5, the department announced that it would make available a further $300 million in a second tranche of RAPP.
Non-profit US agricultural trade organisations, state regional trade groups, agricultural cooperatives and state agencies are all eligible to apply for a share of the $300 million. They have until October 4 to do so.
Mr Halstrom said he hoped the funding would help exporters find new markets for US beef, pork and lamb. He said market diversification was critical and that money from RAPP would give export-focused organisations resources to make a bigger impression “in markets where demand has only scratched the surface”.
