WASHINGTON — Released on Feb. 1, the Obama Administration’s budget proposal for FY 2011 includes a 20% cut in funding for the Market Access Program (M.A.P.) to $160 million, according to the American Meat Institute (A.M.I.).

Formerly called the Market Promotion Program, M.A.P. assists U.S. producers, exporters, private companies and other trade organizations with financing promotional activities for U.S. agricultural products.


The M.A.P. encourages the development, maintenance and expansion of commercial export markets for agricultural commodities. Activities financed include consumer promotions, market research, technical assistance and trade servicing.

Reducing M.A.P. funding is similar to what was proposed in last year’s administration budget for FY 2010, and which was rejected by Congress in the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill, A.M.I. said. The M.A.P. received no annual increase in funding under the 2008 Farm Bill.

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