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Release Date: 05/21/2024

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) today received notice of additional funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under its Regional Agriculture Promotion Program (RAPP). The award will disperse $17 million to the Council for use in developing markets that will be crucial to the future of U.S. agriculture exports.

“USDA’s decision to distribute additional investment is a wonderful show of confidence in the Council and its partners to continue blazing a trail in foreign markets on behalf of U.S. agriculture,” said Brent Boydston, USGC chairman. “The future of the Council and its programming has never been brighter and I am certain there will be incredible results for producers, buyers and sellers alike.”

RAPP was launched after a request from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to bolster, diversify and expand market opportunities for U.S. agriculture products. This round of funding is the first of five tranches, with the next one coming in 2026.

The majority of the Council’s RAPP funding will be used to enhance its programming in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, where rapid population and economic growth is creating demand for high-quality agriculture products that the U.S. industry will be positioned to meet.

Other portions of the investment will be committed to solidifying U.S. producers’ stances in existing top export markets and to add staff in the Council’s Washington, D.C. headquarters to properly manage and administer the Council’s higher international activity.

“RAPP funding is a game changer for the Council and other cooperators representing U.S. products in international markets and will allow a significant expansion of the great work that Council staff are already doing worldwide,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC president and CEO. “Thank you to USDA for its constant support of the Council and for recognizing the need to continue improving U.S. export market promotion efforts.”

The Corn Marketing Program and the Michigan Corn Growers Association are both members of USGC.