USDA opens applications for FY 2026 agricultural trade promotion programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for its fiscal year 2026 agricultural trade promotion programs, aimed at helping American producers boost exports and enter new international markets.

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service announced funding opportunities through four programs:

Market Access Program;
Foreign Market Development Program;
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program;
Emerging Markets Program.
The deadline for applications is June 6, 2025.

These initiatives are part of a broader trade push by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who also announced plans to lead six international trade missions over the next six months to Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

“Our job at USDA is to open new markets for our farmers, ranchers and producers. The previous administration left agriculture with a $50 billion trade deficit. President Trump and I will not sit idly by — we are actively working to open new markets and remove existing barriers,” said Rollins in a new release. “We are putting farmers first. These programs are a crucial step in sustaining long lasting economic growth in rural America.”

The Market Access Program will make $200 million available to agricultural industry organizations to support overseas promotion of U.S. commodities, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, processed products and bulk items. Participants are required to contribute at least $2.50 for every $1 in federal funding received.

The Foreign Market Development Program will distribute $34.5 million to help U.S. farmers, processors and exporters address long-term market constraints and develop new international opportunities. This program also relies on cost-sharing by participants.

The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program will provide $9 million to fund projects that reduce sanitary, phytosanitary and other technical barriers that hinder exports of specialty crops such as fruits, tree nuts and vegetables.

The Emerging Markets Program allocates $8 million annually to support assessment and technical assistance activities in developing markets.

These trade promotion programs are backed by mandatory funding from Congress and are implemented through public-private partnerships with nonprofit trade associations, farmer cooperatives, state agencies and small businesses.

USDA emphasized its commitment to fiscal responsibility, noting that it will monitor the implementation of these programs to ensure a strong return on investment for taxpayers.