ASI Awarded Portion of $161 Million Export Allocation

August, 2004 - Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced on June 17, 2004, fiscal year 2004 allocations totaling $161,267,500 to 71 U.S. trade organizations for the promotion of U.S. agricultural products overseas.

The provision includes three Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) programs: the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program and Quality Samples Program (QSP).

The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) was awarded $835,286: $285,358 in MAP funding; $219,928 in FMD funding; and $330,000 in QSP program.

"The sheep industry made a strong showing with positive results from these programs in past years, which is evident with the continued funding from USDA again this year," said ASI Wool Marketing Director Rita Kourlis Samuelson. "In comparison, this is a two-percent decrease for ASI from last year's level. However, we did receive a considerable increase of $200,000 the year before."

The MAP program utilizes matching organizational funding as a means of cost-sharing overseas marketing and promotional activities. ASI uses MAP funding for projects such as top-combing and scouring trials, trade show participation, trade missions and reverse trade missions.

The FMD Cooperator Program focuses on reducing market impediments and identifying new markets or uses for U.S. products, while QSP funding enables U.S. exporters to provide foreign importers with agricultural commodity samples.

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