ASA, USSEC & WISHH Welcome USDA Allocation of Foreign Market Development and Market Access Program Funding–
The American Soybean Association (ASA), the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) announced today that the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) has allocated $16,845,357 in Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) funds to support the promotion of U.S. Soy in international markets during the 2026 program year (January–December).
“The FMD and MAP programs are essential tools that enable American soybean farmers to compete and succeed in the global marketplace,” said Stephen Censky, ASA CEO. “Through our partnerships with USSEC and WISHH, ASA strategically leverages these resources to build long-term capacity and demand for U.S. Soy around the world.”
Historically, U.S. market development programs have proven to deliver powerful returns helping to ensure U.S. farmers stay competitive in feeding a growing world; a 2022 study examining 17 years of USDA investments in market development found that every dollar invested returned $24.50.
“These program investments are vital for helping U.S. Soy sustain and expand global market opportunities by building partnerships, addressing customer needs, and delivering the transparency and sustainability that international buyers value,” said Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO. “We are grateful to USDA-FAS for championing U.S. agricultural export trade efforts around the world.”
This year’s allocation represents a 5.6% increase from 2025 funding levels, underscoring continued confidence in U.S. Soy’s contribution to the U.S. economy as a vital supplier in global food, feed, and fuel systems. In marketing year 2024/25, U.S. Soy exported 68.7 million metric tons valued at $29.6 billion of U.S.-grown whole soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil — a 12.8% increase in year-over-year volume and a 2.95% gain over the five-year average.
The funding will be distributed via ASA, the cooperator of record for U.S. Soy’s participation in the MAP and FMD programs, to USSEC and WISHH to enhance market access, technical support, and demand-creation activities through strategic market development in emerging, developing, expansion and mature markets worldwide, creating long-term demand and expanded trade opportunities for U.S.-grown soybeans.
U.S. Wheat Associates Celebrates USDA Announcement of Export Market Development Funding–
U.S. Wheat Associates (U.S. Wheat) celebrated the announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) has awarded more than $212 million through the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program to help expand export markets for U.S. food and agricultural products.
All across its supply chain, U.S. wheat depends on the successful public-private partnership between USW’s state wheat commission members and USDA-FAS export market development programs. Checkoff contributions qualify USW to apply for matching funds through programs like the MAP and the FMD program. U.S. Wheat leverages those combined funds to position the six classes of U.S. wheat as the world’s most reliable source of high-quality wheat for global milling and baking operations.
“U.S. Wheat greatly appreciates USDA’s continued investment into expanding agricultural markets under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg, ” said U.S. Wheat President and CEO Mike Spier. “This annual funding allows us to match wheat farmers’ hard-earned checkoff dollars with federal resources, strengthening a public-private partnership that has proven its value decade after decade.”
The USDA announcement includes awards for 2026, which U.S. Wheat will use to connect American farmers with customers around the world through technical assistance, market promotion and the identification and removal of trade barriers. Studies consistently demonstrate that this public-private partnership continues to not only meet its intended purpose of boosting agricultural export volumes, but also supports rural economies and the U.S. economy.
USMEF Statement on 2026 USDA Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program Allocations
With outstanding support from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, MAP and FMD are essential programs for developing new destinations for U.S. products – including U.S. pork, beef and lamb – and for defending U.S. agriculture’s market share worldwide. These programs have a proven track record of delivering critical returns for U.S. farmers, ranchers and the entire red meat supply chain. USMEF greatly appreciates our inclusion in the programs, and we look forward to further expanding global demand for U.S. red meat in the year ahead.
