Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 720-8998Samuel.Jones@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, August 5, 2011-- The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors is accepting grant proposals designed to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. sheep and goat industries.
“These grant funds will strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and goat products in the Unites States through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development, and market and environmental research,” said David Shipman, Acting Administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
The Center was established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. Currently the Center has approximately $1 million available in grants funds. Proposals will be accepted through September 15, 2011.
Financial assistance provided by the Center must accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
-Strengthen and improve long-term sustainability of the goat and/or lamb and wool industry's infrastructure by increasing the numbers in production. -Provide integration of performance/production data from sources that can help enhance the National Sheep Improvement Program.-Provide leadership training and education to producers and packers within the sheep and goat industries. -Enhance sheep and/or goat production by improving infrastructure of the U.S. sheep and goat industry through assistance to all segments of the industry to address sustainable production and marketing of sheep and goat milk, meat, fiber and related services such as grazing for fire management and pasture improvements. -Promote lamb and meat goat marketing through an organized method that can measure tangible results.-Enhance the sheep and goat industry by coordinating information exchange and seeking mutual understanding and marketing within the international industry community.
The nine-member Board is comprised of seven voting and two non-voting members. Voting members include four domestic producers of sheep or goats; two members with expertise in finance and management; and one member with expertise in lamb, wool, goat or goat product marketing. Non-voting members include the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, USDA. The Board will review each proposal, recommend funding and submit to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for approval.
For more information contact Steve Lee, Executive Director; National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, P.O. Box 646; Rockland, ME 04841; Telephone: (202) 350-9065; via email at: stevelee@nsiic.org; Web site: http://www.NSIIC.org.
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