WASHINGTON — The Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced on Aug. 5 that the US Department of Agriculture is investing an additional $300 million in the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) to help grow export markets for US products.

RAPP was launched last year when the USDA received $1.2 billion from the Commodity Credit Corp. to establish the program and help exporters expand beyond established markets like China, Mexico, Canada, which together account for nearly half of all current export sales.

“Access to international markets supports US farmers at home and food security throughout the world,” Torres Small said in her announcement.

During the first round of RAPP funding in May, $300 million were awarded to 66 US organizations. More than $1 billion in proposals were filed.

“Given the importance of exports in supporting farm income and rural economic development, we’re delighted to be able to make an additional $300 million available this year,” Torres Small said.

For this second round of funding, interested organizations have until Oct. 4 to apply. USDA anticipates that allocations will be announced before the end of 2024.

As with the first round of RAPP funding, USDA is again setting aside $25 million specifically for activities in Africa, which has some of the fastest-growing economies but the lowest levels of US export market investment of any region in the world.

Upon Torres Small’s announcement, the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) released a statement noting the benefits RAPP brings to meat exports.

“The first tranche of RAPP funding is already at work identifying and developing new opportunities globally for US pork, beef and lamb, and USMEF is excited to see that implementation of the program continues to move forward,” said Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and chief executive officer. “RAPP’s emphasis on market diversification is especially critical, as it allows for dedication of resources in markets where demand has only scratched the surface. In this respect, RAPP is an excellent complement to USDA’s Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program, as well as the checkoff investments of our industry partners, which allow USMEF to expand and defend market share in both emerging and well-developed destinations.”