The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has recently launched four programs to help U.S. agricultural producers promote and sell their goods internationally. This action follows U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins’ latest announcement to visit six international markets—Brazil, India, Japan, Peru, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom—to boost American agricultural exports and expand markets for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers.

Be aware that the application deadline for all four programs is June 6, 2025. Applicants can submit questions to the agency's point of contact for all four programs until May 30, 2025.

MAP offers up to $200 million to state agencies, U.S. agricultural cooperatives, nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, and nonprofit state regional trade groups (SRTGs) for projects that encourage the development, maintenance, and expansion of diverse commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. Priority will be given to organizations with the broadest producer representation and affiliated industry participation in the commodity being promoted. If multiple organizations represent the same commodity, the USDA may require the organizations to work collaboratively under a joint coalition award or elect to fund the organization with the broadest producer representation and affiliated industry participation. 

Funding Restrictions

• Capital expenses, such as the purchase of equipment–not entirely attributable to this award–must be pro-rated.
• Agreement funds and other support may not be used for matching contributions for other federal grants or cooperative agreements, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings.
• Federal employees are prohibited from acting as an agent of the applicant in any capacity (paid or unpaid) on any proposal submitted under this program.
• Federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal Government or any other government entity.
• Indirect costs are not allowed under this program.

Be aware that 60-70 awards are expected to be offered. Furthermore, all U.S. agricultural commodities are eligible for consideration, except for tobacco. A cost match of at least ten (10) percent of the total amount reimbursed by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is required for approved generic activities. A dollar-for-dollar cost share for the promotion of branded products will be required.

Emerging Markets Program (EMP)

The EMP plans to fund activities that enhance emerging markets’ food and rural business systems, including reducing trade barriers. Up to $8 million of total estimated funds will be offered to any U.S. government entity with a demonstrated role or interest in the export of U.S. agricultural commodities or products, non–profit trade associations, colleges and universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private companies. Foreign organizations are not eligible for direct funding assistance by may participate as a third party. An anticipated forty (40) awards are expected to be offered under the EMP. Be aware funding per award under EMP is limited to a maximum of $500,000.

Eligible activities include technical training, market assessments, subsistence travel to emerging markets, and subsistence travel to the U.S. EMP. Be aware that all U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for consideration. Applications that seek support for multiple U.S. commodities and processed products containing at least fifty (50) percent U.S.-origin agricultural commodity content by weight–exclusive of added water–are also eligible. 

Only applicants exclusively targeting countries classified below the World Bank’s threshold for high income are considered for funding, accessible here. Countries classified by the World Bank as high-income are not eligible markets under EMP. Furthermore, any countries off limits for funding due to U.S. sanctions or other restrictions are ineligible regardless of World Bank classification status. 

Other Restrictions:

• Agreement funds and other support may not be used for matching contributions for other federal grants or cooperative agreements, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings.
• Federal employees are prohibited from acting as an agent of the applicant in any capacity (paid or unpaid) on any proposal submitted under this program.
• Federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal Government or any other government entity

Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC)

An anticipated number of twenty (20) awards are being offered to provide funding for projects that seek to remove, resolve, or mitigate existing or potential sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. Over $9 million of total program funding is offered for this program. Eligible applicants include non–profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, private companies, or a U.S. governmental entity with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural specialty crops. 

TASC is only open to U.S. specialty crops, which for this program is defined as most cultivated plants, or the products thereof, produced in the U.S. except for wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco. Applications may cover more than one U.S. specialty crop. Applications may target any foreign market (unless off limits for funding due to U.S. sanctions or other restrictions), including single countries or reasonable regional groupings of countries. A ten (10) percent minimum cost share is required.

To be eligible for consideration, TASC applications must:

• Demonstrate how the proposed activities will remove, resolve, or mitigate the identified existing or potential sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barrier and will benefit an entire industry rather than a specific company or brand and
• Identify and address an existing or potential sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barrier that prohibits or threatens the export of commercially available U.S. specialty crops.

Only generic activities are funded under the TASC program. For-profit entities cannot use funds to conduct private business, promote private self–interests, supplement the costs of normal sales activities, or promote their own products or services beyond specific uses approved by the USDA. TASC funds cannot be used to support normal operating costs of individual organizations, including government organizations, nor as a source to recover pre-award costs or prior expenses from previous or ongoing projects. Costs related to market research, advertising, or other promotional activities are also ineligible for reimbursement. Finally, unreasonable expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval of an application will be ineligible for reimbursement.

Be aware that funding per award under TASC is limited to a maximum of $500,000. Furthermore, TASC funds awarded to Federal government agencies must be expended or otherwise obligated by the close of business on September 30, 2026. All other eligible entities may request funding for up to five (5) years in a single application. 

Foreign Market Development Program (FMD)

The FMD program is expected to support over twenty (20) nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations for projects that create, expand, and maintain long–term export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. Cost shares must be at least fifty (50) percent of the value of resources provided by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for activities conducted under the project agreement and may be either in-kind or cash-invested.

FMD-funded projects generally address long-term opportunities to reduce foreign import constraints or expand export growth opportunities, such as:

• Identifying new markets or new uses for the agricultural commodity or product,
• Improving processing capabilities,
• Modifying codes and standards, or
• Reducing infrastructural or historical market impediments.

Be aware that this program focuses on the generic promotion of U.S. commodities rather than the consumer-oriented promotion of branded products. Preference is given to organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership and scope.

Need Assistance?

USFCR’s Consulting Division offers assistance with grant applications through grant writing and review and submission services. To learn more about grant services or the sourcing of other grants, please contact us at (877) 252-2700 or complete the grant assessment below.

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