BACKGROUND
The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) was established as a revolving fund by the 1996 Farm Bill to aid the nation's ailing sheep and goat industries.
MISSION
To assist the U.S. Sheep and Goat Industries by strengthening and enhancing the production and marketing of sheep, goats, and their products in the United States.
NEED AND PURPOSE
Legislation was passed in 1993 that began the phase out of the National Wool and Mohair Act, which took place between 1993 and 1995. The Wool Act provided a direct incentive payment program to producers of wool and mohair from 1954 to 1995. The program had served as an income stabilization mechanism and safety net for the sheep and goat industries. Between the beginning of the phase out in 1993 and January 2000, the number of sheep in the United States declined by over 3.1 million animals (31%) and the number of operations with sheep declined by 25,810 (27%). The decline in the Angora goat numbers has been even more dramatic, with a 72% decrease during the same period. There are currently no subsidy programs for goat milk or meat producers.
Congress saw the need to address these declines and created the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) as an innovative new approach of addressing the needs of the sheep and goat industries. The NSIIC provides a mechanism for much needed capital to the sheep and goat industries in a way that will help the industry into perpetuity.
OPERATIONS
A nine member Board of Directors with seven unpaid voting members provides administrative, policy and programs direction for the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center. The seven voting members of the Board are appointed to three-year terms by the Secretary of Agriculture. Voting members represent a diversity of grassroots interests in the production, marketing and financial management of sheep, goats and their products.
The Under Secretary for Rural Development and the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics serve as non-voting members of the Board.
An Executive Director with the help of an Administrative Officer carries out the Center's day-to-day activities. The NSIIC two-person office receives assistance from USDA Rural Development staff for limited personnel, accounting, procurement, IRM support, budget requests, and related activities. USDA Research, Education and Economics also provides some limited personnel support. Other technical and administrative support is authorized to be contracted periodically by the Board as the need arises. The Board may also establish the need to authorize contracts with other state and federal agencies.
The NSIIC has the flexibility to deliver financial assistance to the sheep and goat industries through a number of different methods. These methods may be administered directly by the NSIIC or with the cooperation of other federal or private entities, such as an intermediary. For the NSIIC operations, programs, current board members and staff, how to complete an application, and more -- visit www.nsiic.org
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National Sheep Industry Improvement Center
PO Box 23483 Room 2117 Washington, DC 20026-3483
1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20250-3252
Phone: 202-690-0632 Fax: 202-720-1053
For a complete description of Rural Business-Cooperative Service's grant and loan programs visit: the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan, the Rural Business Enterprise Grant, and the Rural Business Opportunity Grant programs.
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