USDA launches US$285M program to expand US agricultural exports

USA – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a US$285 million program to expand market opportunities for American agricultural products.

Dubbed the America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), the new initiative has received enthusiastic endorsement from key industry associations representing the grains and oilseeds sectors.

Michelle Bekkering, USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, unveiled the program during a meeting of the US Ag Export Development Council (USADEC).

Designed to augment established efforts such as the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, the AFTPP emphasizes strategic growth in international trade.

“We need to look at where we have market share and how to increase that market share, then identify where we face trade barriers and remove those and finally identify where our next markets are going to be,” Bekkering stated.

Prominent organizations, including the American Soybean Association (ASA), the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), have voiced strong support for the initiative.

They describe it as a timely and strategic mechanism to enhance US soybean export development in non-traditional markets, benefiting American farmers.

“This funding mechanism reflects a clear commitment to expanding the global footprint of US agriculture,” remarked Caleb Ragland, President of the ASA.

“For US soybean growers, the AFTPP offers renewed momentum behind efforts to work with new markets, deepen existing relationships, and keep American-grown soy at the forefront of global feed and food chains.”

The groups highlighted that the funding will accelerate diversification of export destinations, bolster value-added processing, underscore the sustainability profile of US soy, and strengthen supply-chain reliability for international customers.

“USSEC welcomes the AFTPP as an important complement to established programs such as Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development,” said Janna Fritz, Chair of the USSEC.

Fritz added that with the pool of resources increasing and an emphasis toward nontraditional markets, US soy exporters are well-positioned to leverage our proven supply chain, sustainability credentials and industry partnerships to capture next-generation growth.

Morey Hill, Chair of the WISHH, emphasized the program’s potential to unlock opportunities in regions experiencing rising demand for animal-feed and human-food proteins.

Through collaborative efforts with USSEC and ASA, WISHH supports emerging-market development via capacity-building, educational, and technical assistance programs.

“Through strategic investments and partnerships enabled by USDA’s funding, US soy can deliver sustainable, high-quality nutrition solutions while supporting farmer livelihoods and global food-security goals,” Hill noted.

The initiative has also garnered approval from US Wheat Associates (USW), which commended the Trump Administration for prioritizing agricultural export expansion.

“US wheat farmers are world’s best at producing high quality wheat that global customers need, and the USDA’s support for our work to connect US wheat farmers with customers around the world is absolutely vital,” stated Mike Spier, President and Chief Executive Officer of USW.

The USDA is encouraging recipients of traditional market development programs to submit proposals for innovative activities targeting nontraditional markets, with the goal of boosting export sales for US farmers, ranchers, and producers. Applications must be submitted by January 23, 2026.

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