The U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee has...
The U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee has scheduled a committee meeting for Thursday, May 4 on the FY 2001 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Legislation which is crucial for funding to USMEF and for export programs, introduced by Representatives Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Allen Boyd (D-FL), will be considered. The U.S. Senate subcommittee is expected to follow suit next week with similar legislation introduced by Senators Murray (D-WA) and Craig (R-ID).
The House legislation calls for an increase in funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) from $90 million per year to $200 million and a minimum of $35 million per year for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program. These programs are critical to the mission of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, particularly in light of increased competition for export dominance from the European Union, Canada, Australia and Argentina. Continued support from the MAP and FMD programs is essential for further U.S. red meat export growth in the new century.
USMEF was the largest single recipient of MAP funding in 1999. Funds received in 1999 were approximately $8.3 million and USMEF has averaged nearly $9.7 million over the last three years. This level of funding has enabled USMEF to be very successful in attracting private funding from a number of checkoff programs. In turn, a major factor in determining allocations of MAP and FMD funding is the strength of private industry funding. USMEF’s strong support from MAP and FMD, coupled with funding from its eight sectors, is what allows the federation to be one of the largest recipients of MAP and FMD funds.
To appreciate MAP’s contribution to the red meat industry, one need only look at the figures. Total U.S. beef exports have increased 126 percent in volume in the last 10 years and over 70 percent in value, while U.S. pork exports have increased over 275 percent in volume and nearly 78 percent in value for the same period. Since 1985, MAP, and its predecessors, have helped boost agricultural exports, resulting in a positive agricultural trade surplus of $12.5 billion in fiscal year 1999, and contributing billions of dollars in increased economic activity and additional tax revenues.
Increased red meat exports depend, in part, on continued funding of the MAP and FMD programs. Please take the time to call the House and the Senate at 202-224-3121 or send a letter to your Representative and Senators urging them to cosponsor these export funding bills. Individual members’ and senators’ telephone numbers can be found on the worldwide web at http://www.house.gov and http://www.senate.gov. The E-mail address for the House Committee on Agriculture is: agriculture@mail.house.gov. The E-mail address for Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is: lugar@lugar.senate.gov. Attached is a draft letter, which can be adapted and sent to your state’s congressional delegation urging them to cosponsor this legislation.
Thank you for your personal attention to this vital issue. Continued and increased funding of the MAP and FMD programs will allow USMEF to continue to represent the industry and build market share in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
DRAFT SENATE LETTER
Your Address Here
May XX, 2000
The Honorable
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator ______:
Example Personalized paragraph: I am a beef/pork producer from [city, state] and an active member of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Soybean Program. I believe export funding and the development of international markets for our red meat exports are vital to my operation and to the future of agriculture.
I urge you to cosponsor the export funding legislation introduced by Senators Murray and Craig when the U.S. Senate subcommittee considers it in the near future. Funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program are critical if we are to continue our successes in exporting red meat, especially in light of increased competition for export dominance from the European Union, Canada, Australia and Argentina.
The United States has experienced strong growth in red meat exports over the past 10-15 years and forecasts through the year 2006 call for us to continue to build market share, even against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Total U.S. beef exports have increased 126 percent in volume in the last 10 years and over 70 percent in value, while U.S. pork exports have increased over 275 percent in volume and nearly 78 percent in value for the same period. By 2006, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) expects beef exports to grow to 1.816 million metric tons and pork exports to almost double to 988,000 metric tons.
These goals cannot be realized without partnerships and funding. The USMEF's international staff - in its worldwide network of offices - has forged a series of partnerships with the result that USMEF, U.S. companies and U.S. products have become integral parts of target overseas red meat markets. Continued, and increased, MAP and FMD funding are imperative if these partnerships are to bear fruit well into the 21st century.
Exports have grown dramatically due to the market liberalization and reforms that came out of the Uruguay Round. In fact, the Uruguay Round produced the most significant trade liberalizing agreement for agriculture in the 50-year history of the GATT/WTO. The explosive growth in U.S. red meat exports since has been tempered by the parallel growth in competition for market share from other countries. As worldwide demand for red meat increases and self-sufficiency in many countries decreases, the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Australia and the European Union will fight for increased market share.
For example, the European Union (EU), through aggressive use of export refunds, sustained its level of pork exports to Russia in 1999 while commercial sales by U.S. exporters to Russia dwindled. The Canadian pork industry is emerging as a major player in Asian markets. Increased competition in Japan from Canada and the EU means that further development is necessary to expand the U.S. share of the number-one market for U.S. pork.
The historic bilateral agreement reached between the U.S. and China in November, 1999, paving the way for China’s accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO), has the potential to reap significant benefits for U.S. agriculture and the U.S. red meat industry. But these benefits can only be fully realized by funding to educate Chinese buyers and end users about the benefits of U.S. products.
The USMEF represents the export industry on many fronts. As a producer, I benefit from USMEF's presence in the international marketplace through its work in resolving trade barriers and access issues. Building demand for U.S. red meat products - a key component of USMEF's success - directly affects my bottom line. The successful launch of chilled beef in South Korea, U.S. pork's dominance of the chilled pork market in Japan and an increased and growing presence for U.S. pork in meat cases in Mexico are but a few of the success stories I can share with you that represent the effects of MAP and FMD funds.
In conclusion, I am again urging you to cosponsor this legislation. As a producer, I can ensure you that this legislation is vital to the well being of agriculture and to every farmer's income. A well-funded program that enhances our agriculture export industry, pursues expanded exports of U.S. red meat and competes with our competitors in the global marketplace is at the heart of survival for U.S. agriculture.
Sincerely,
DRAFT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LETTER
Your Address Here
May XX, 2000
The Honorable
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman/Congresswoman _______:
Example Personalized paragraph: I am a beef/pork producer from [city, state] and an active member of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Soybean Program. I believe export funding and the development of international markets for our red meat exports are vital to my operation and to the future of agriculture.
I urge you to cosponsor the export funding legislation introduced by Representatives Doc Hastings and Allen Boyd when it is considered in the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee May 4. Funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program are critical if we are to continue our successes in exporting red meat, especially in light of increased competition for export dominance from the European Union, Canada, Australia, Korea and Argentina.
The United States has experienced strong growth in red meat exports over the past 10-15 years and forecasts through the year 2006 call for us to continue to build market share, even against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Total U.S. beef exports have increased 126 percent in volume in the last 10 years and over 70 percent in value, while U.S. pork exports have increased over 275 percent in volume and nearly 78 percent in value for the same period. By 2006, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) expects beef exports to grow to 1.816 million metric tons and pork exports to almost double to 988,000 metric tons.
These goals cannot be realized without partnerships and funding. The USMEF's international staff - in its worldwide network of offices - has forged a series of partnerships with the result that USMEF, U.S. companies and U.S. products have become integral parts of target overseas red meat markets. Continued, and increased, MAP and FMD funding are imperative if these partnerships are to bear fruit well into the 21st century.
Exports have grown dramatically due to the market liberalization and reforms that came out of the Uruguay Round. In fact, the Uruguay Round produced the most significant trade liberalizing agreement for agriculture in the 50-year history of the GATT/WTO. The explosive growth in U.S. red meat exports since has been tempered by the parallel growth in competition for market share from other countries. As worldwide demand for red meat increases and self-sufficiency in many countries decreases, the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Australia and the European Union will fight for increased market share.
For example, the European Union (EU), through aggressive use of export refunds, sustained its level of pork exports to Russia in 1999 while commercial sales by U.S. exporters to Russia dwindled. The Canadian pork industry is emerging as a major player in Asian markets. Increased competition in Japan from Canada and the EU means that further development is necessary to expand the U.S. share of the number-one market for U.S. pork.
The historic bilateral agreement reached between the U.S. and China in November, 1999, paving the way for China’s accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO), has the potential to reap significant benefits for U.S. agriculture and the U.S. red meat industry. But these benefits can only be fully realized by funding to educate Chinese buyers and end users about the benefits of U.S. products.
The USMEF represents the export industry on many fronts. As a producer, I benefit from USMEF's presence in the international marketplace through its work in resolving trade barriers and access issues. Building demand for U.S. red meat products - a key component of USMEF's success - directly affects my bottom line. The successful launch of chilled beef in South Korea, U.S. pork's dominance of the chilled pork market in Japan and an increased and growing presence for U.S. pork in meat cases in Mexico are but a few of the success stories I can share with you that represent the effects of MAP and FMD funds.
In conclusion, I am again urging you to cosponsor this legislation. As a producer, I can ensure you that this legislation is vital to the well being of agriculture and to every farmer's income. A well-funded program that enhances our agriculture export industry, pursues expanded exports of U.S. red meat and competes with our competitors in the global marketplace is at the heart of survival for U.S. agriculture.
Sincerely,