A Board of Directors, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, will manage the general operations of the Sheep Center. The Sheep Center will award grants to eligible entities to improve the production and marketing of sheep and goat products. The program becomes effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The purpose of the Sheep Center is strengthen and enhance production and marketing of sheep or goat products in the United States, through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development, and market and environmental research.
Board members will include four active producers of sheep or goats in the United States, two finance and management experts, one experienced in lamb, wool, goat or goat product marketing, the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development and the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics of USDA.
Nominations for Board members may be submitted by any eligible national organization whose membership consists primarily of active sheep or goat producers in the United States, and the primary interest of the organization is the production of sheep or goats in the United States. USDA will publically announce when it will accept nominations from eligible national organizations.
The interim final rule was published today in the Federal Register. Comments must be received by close of business September 21, 2010. Comments must be posted online at www.regulations.gov or sent to Kenneth R. Payne, Chief, Marketing Programs, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2628-S, STOP 0251, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0251; Telephone: (202) 720-1115; Fax: (202) 720-1125. All comments should reference the document number, AMS-LS-08-0064; the date, and the page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
#Follow us on Twitter to receive the latest press releases, stories, and important updates about the Agricultural Marketing Service at: http://twitter.com/USDA_AMS_NEWS.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).