Ghana promote that U.S. rice

"In the current fiscal year, USA Rice received $4.2 million in MAP and FMD funds that enable us to conduct important marketing and promotional work for all types and forms of U.S. rice in more than 30 countries," said USA Rice Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn. "We can clearly demonstrate our successful trade servicing and market promotion programs using the current funding, and will build on this as we submit a new application for FY2016."    

Each year's allocation is the result of a competitive review of past program performance and industry support for the promotion programs. Approximately 90 cooperator groups compete for MAP/FMD funds, with new cooperator groups being added each year.

USA Rice's proposal, which is typically about 300 pages, is due by June 8, 2015. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to award funds in October 2015.

"With the support of these Foreign Ag Service (FAS) market development programs, U.S. agricultural exports last fiscal year reached a record $152.5 billion. Those exports supported more than one million high-quality, good-paying U.S. jobs" said FAS Administrator Phil Karsting.

Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

Around Washington

Clean Water Rule Advances to OMB for Review Agri-Pulse

Congressional Republicans are expected to use the fiscal 2016 appropriations process to try to block enforcement of the rule.

Around the Country

Silicon Valley Firms Plant Roots in Farm Belt Wall Street Journal

The money involved in U.S. food startups is still small compared with Internet companies. But venture-capital investment in agriculture and food soared 54% to $486 million last year, according to Dow Jones VentureSource.

USDA Funding to Help Clean Waterways in Mississippi River Basin USDA

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Health and Nutrition

More Scientists Doubt Salt is as Bad for You as the Government Says Washington Post

How could something as simple as salt stymie scientists for so long? The answer is that, despite the dietary claims that are made for all kinds of foods, actually substantiating how eating influences human health is notoriously difficult. Dennis Bier, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine said "When you are making recommendations for 300 million people, you have to be concerned about any data that suggests harm."