WASHINGTON, March 1, 2012—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announced today that it continues to accept fiscal year 2012 applications for two export market development programs: the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) and the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. New proposals will be accepted until FY 2012 funds are exhausted.

EMP funding supports technical assistance for the promotion of U.S. farm products in emerging markets worldwide. TASC helps open, retain and expand markets for U.S. specialty crops. Under TASC, USDA resources are provided to address phytosanitary or related technical restrictions that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. Specialty crops include all cultivated plants and their products produced in the United States except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar and tobacco.

All proposals received by March 22 will be reviewed concurrently by FAS. Proposals received after that date will be reviewed if funds remain.

Applicants are encouraged to apply via the Unified Export Strategy online application system. Information is available at www.fas.usda.gov/mos/ues/Unified.asp.

Applications can also be emailed to podadmin@fas.usda.gov or hand-delivered to: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Office of Trade Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 6512-S, Washington, D.C. 20250.

Applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number for federal assistance, which can be obtained at fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by calling (866) 705-5711.

Additional information about EMP and TASC is available at www.fas.usda.gov/programs.asp.

USDA’s international market development programs have had a significant and positive impact on U.S. agricultural exports. An independent study released in 2010 found that for every $1 expended by government and industry on market development, U.S. food and agricultural exports increase by $35.

The Obama Administration, with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, has aggressively worked to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade, helping to push agricultural exports to record levels in 2011 and beyond. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing one of its best periods in history thanks to the productivity, resiliency, and resourcefulness of our producers. Today, net farm income is at record levels while debt has been cut in half since the 1980s. Overall, American agriculture supports 1 in 12 jobs in the United States and provides American consumers with 83 percent of the food we consume, while maintaining affordability and choice. Strong agricultural exports contribute to a positive U.S. trade balance, create jobs, boost economic growth and support President Obama’s National Export Initiative goal of doubling all U.S. exports by the end of 2014.

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