The US Department of Agriculture is stepping in to help fill the export promotion void caused by the expiration of the 2018 farm bill and Congress’ inability to get a new one passed, so far, during its current session.
Secretary Tom Vilsack says his agency will use $2.3 billion in CCC funds for export promotion and international food aid.
“The decision that we’re making and the decision we were asked to make by Senators Boozman and Stabenow is designed to provide some additional boost, at a time when it is challenging for the drafters of the farm bill to provide the resources necessary to meet all of the demand.”
Vilsack says that justifies the need to use all funding tools available. $1.3 billion of the CCC money will go to the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program to promote specialty crop exports and to continue a program started during the trade war with China. He says $1 billion will buy surplus goods from the US to combat global hunger being made worse by foreign conflicts.
“The unprovoked war in Ukraine, the current conflict in the Middle East, the stresses and challenges being faced by African nations, some Asian nations, and even Central America and South America.”
Vilsack says the FY 2023 US farm trade deficit was $19 billion and is forecast to grow to $27.5 billion this fiscal year. Meanwhile, he says close to one billion people face chronic hunger or starvation.
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