FIGHT CONTINUES FOR MAP/FMD

The primary source of funding for the USDBC's global market development programs are the
Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program.  USDBC is a long time participant in this critically successful public/private partnership along with numerous other agricultural trade groups and the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).  Despite the fact that both MAP and FMD are funded in five-year tranches through the Farm Bill, both programs come under attack every year during appropriations.  Every year, a group of vocal Congressional representatives ask for the elimination of these programs largely because they lack full understanding of the enormous benefits they bring to the US economy through agricultural exports and they fail to see the return on investment for every dollar invested in this program which can be as high as $35 to $1. 

USBDC along with many other agricultural trade groups relies on this program to provide education and information to potential buyers around the world, and to move our products through the global trade system.  The House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees are expected to markup their respective versions of the FY 16 Agriculture Appropriations bill in the next few weeks.  Please contact your House members and Senators, especially members of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees at the following links: 

http://appropriations.house.gov/about/members/agricultureruralfda.htm

http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittee/agriculture-rural-development-food-and-drug-administration-and-related-agencies in support of full funding of $200 million for MAP and $34.5 million for FMD, as authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

Contacting your House members and Senators makes a difference.  It's important to remind them that while our MAP and FMD program funding is being reduced by sequestration, administrative costs, and the diminished value in real dollars of the funding levels (since 2006 for MAP and 2002 for FMD) our international competitors are increasing funding for their agricultural export promotion and market development efforts.  MAP and FMD are two proven tools U.S. agriculture has to compete in an increasingly competitive international marketplace.  If you need any additional talking points please contact USDBC.

USDBC SUBMITS COMMENTS ON DIETARY GUIDELINES

USDBC recently submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. While supporting the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) report's conclusion identifying the role of plant based foods, including legumes, USDBC members outlined several concerns with the report.  These concerns included the following:

- Omission of beans as a food source of protein, beans are only noted in a footnote as a "quantity equivalent for a serving of protein." This contrasts with the 2010 Guidelines that clearly identify beans and peas as "excellent sources of protein."  USDBC asked for beans to be included in the definition of protein foods.

-  Consistency in assigning beans to food groups.  USDBC requested recognition of "the unique nutritional profile of beans by including them in both the vegetable and protein groups."

-  Consistent language in packaging.  The DGAC report utilizes the terms dry beans, cooked dry beans, beans, beans and peas, and legumes interchangeably.  USDBC requested that the phrase "beans" is followed by a descriptive phrase as in "beans, such as black beans, pinto beans, etc. for all consumer packaging.

-  USDBC members requested recognition of beans as "a natural and excellent to good source of several shortfall nutrients." USDBC would like to see increased emphasis on beans as an excellent source of fiber. USDBC also requested recognition of beans as a natural source of many nutrients that other foods require fortification to achieve.

This is an important opportunity for the US dry bean industry to encourage increased bean consumption to nutritional decision makers and the general public. 

ARGENTINA PLANTS RECORD DRY BEAN CROP

With few options available in 2015, Argentine farmers in the major bean producing areas bet their money on dry beans, resulting in a huge increase in planted area and record level production.  Almost all varieties saw increases in planting levels compared to 2014.  Most notable were black bean plantings, which increased from 130,000 hectares in 2014 to an astounding 190,000 hectares in 2015 (469,500 acres). Alubia beans increased from 115,000 hectares to 165,000 hectares (407,724 acres) in 2015. The major color bean classes (cranberry, LRK, DRK) increased to 51,000 hectares (126,023 acres). 

Weather has been favorable in the major bean growing regions and yields are likely to be above the ten-year average.  USDBC projects exportable supplies from Argentina at 168,300 MT based on yield of 1.2 MT per hectare and further projects that 85% of production is exportable.  This is likely to have an impact on US bean export competitiveness in some established Latin American markets and on new market initiatives as well such as efforts in Brazil.