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Lindberg says OBBBA doubled MAP and FMD funding

The reconciliation package included a significant boost to USDA’s trade promotion programs. 

New USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs Luke Lindberg says the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has many provisions that will benefit U.S. farmers and ranchers.

“But it also doubled our capacity for MAP and FMD (Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development), the two main programs, the market access facilitation programs. That get our farmers in those markets to make those sales happen.”

Lindberg was a panelist on a forum titled Beyond the Trade Deficit: Rethinking Trade Balance and Opportunities at Farmfest in southwest Minnesota Wednesday.

With trade, he says the endgame is putting more dollars in the pockets of American farmers.

“And that doesn’t happen until we actually get sales done, so trade agreements are milestones toward a victory. But the actual victory comes when we get sales done, and that’s what we’re looking to do.”