The US Department of Agriculture is announcing grant proposals are being accepted for the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program for projects designed to improve the US sheep industry. The funding is managed by the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, which is the recipient responsible for implementing the SPMGP. The center has allocated $300,000 for this year’s round of grant funding. NSIIC is currently accepting grant proposals through Sept. 15, 2025.

Funding can be used for 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 research.

Grant proposals 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 production; integrate performance/production data from sources that can help enhance the sheep industry within the US; provide leadership training and education to sheep industry producers and packers; enhance sheep production by improving infrastructure of the US sheep industry through assistance to all segments of the industry to address 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 center’s board will review each proposal, recommend funding, and submit final recommendations to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for approval. The NSIIC was re-established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. Using funding provided by the 2018 Farm Bill and the first extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, the Center was awarded funding by AMS to be used for the SPMGP.

Interested applicants can contact Steve Lee, NSIIC program manager, at 207-236-6567 or stevelee@nsiic.org.

Source: USDA AMS