Release No.: 127-13

Contact:

Sam Jones-Ellard, (202) 660-2268

samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2013 – The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors announced that it is accepting proposals designed to improve the U.S. sheep and goat industries. Applications will be accepted through September 30, 2013.

The Center was established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. Currently, the Center has budgeted up to $300,000 for grants that will support projects to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and goat products in the United States through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development, and market and environmental research.

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.

• Provide leadership training and education to producers and packers in the sheep and goat industries.

• Improve the infrastructure of the industry through assistance to address sustainable production and marketing of sheep and goat milk, meat, fiber and through related services such as grazing for fire management and pasture improvements.

• Promote lamb and meat goat marketing through an organized method that measures tangible results.

• Enhance the sheep and goat industry by coordinating information exchange and encouraging cooperation 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 USDA’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics. The board will review each proposal, recommend funding, and submit proposals to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for approval.

For more information contact Mr. Steve Lee, Program Manager; National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, Post Office Box 646; Rockland, ME 04841; Telephone: (202) 350-9065; via email at stevelee@nsiic.org. For additional information visit www.NSIIC.org.

#