The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors is accepting grant proposals designed to improve the American sheep industry. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 30.
The center was re-established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, at the request of the American Sheep Industry Association. As part of the 2019 Farm Bill, the center was awarded funding by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service to be used for the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program. Grant funding can be used on activities designed to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and sheep products in the United States through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development, and market and environmental research.
Currently, the center has budgeted approximately $300,000 for grants that will support projects consistent with the grant program. The average grant amount in the last four years has been approximately $30,000.
Financial assistance provided by the center must accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
- Strengthen and improve long-term sustainability of the 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 sheep industry within the United States.
- Provide leadership training and education to sheep industry producers and packers.
- Enhance sheep production by improving infrastructure of the American sheep industry through assistance to all segments of the industry to address sustainable production and marketing of sheep milk, meat, fiber and related services such as grazing and ranch management.
- Promote lamb marketing through an organized method that can measure tangible results.
- Enhance the sheep industry by coordinating information exchange and seeking mutual understanding and marketing within the industry community.
The nine-member board is composed of seven voting members. Voting members include four domestic producers, two members with expertise in finance and management, and one member with expertise in lamb, wool or product marketing. The board will review each proposal, recommend funding and submit final recommendations to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for approval.
Click Here for additional information or contact NSIIC Program Manager Steve Lee at 207-236-6567 or .
Source: NSIIC
