A performance review of the U.S. Grains Council shows U.S. farmers get a little more than $50 back for every dollar the organization receives from its members and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. The analysis shows a total return on investment in market development of $50.30 annually for each dollar invested, as the study concluded the Council's export market development efforts are worth $915.7 million to U.S. farmers. That's up from $659 million in the 2008 study.
While Council Chairman Rick Fruth says Council members only provide a minority of the investment he notes 100% of the returns accrue to producers. He says it's clear the Grains Council creates an immense value for agriculture. The return on investment also comes from FAS, where Council Treasurer Wendell Shauman says the Market Access and Foreign Market Development Programs are government programs that work.
Shauman notes this study only looks at the financial return for the 2008 calendar year. If the last 50 years were taken into account, he says you'd be talking about billions of dollars - not millions.
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