National Livestock Producers Association Sheep & Goat Fund Committee Reviews First Applications

Colorado Springs, CO (May 3, 2000) – Members of the National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA) Sheep and Goat Fund Committee held their first review of applications at a meeting in Denver on April 28th. 

The Committee met with members of the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (Sheep Center) and NLPA to discuss the merits of 13 applications for the NLPA Sheep & Goat Fund.

“The Committee was impressed by the diversity and innovation presented in the applications that were considered,” Dennis Bolling, Chairman of the NLPA Sheep & Goat Fund, said. “It is exciting to finally see the funds going out into the industry as it was intended.”

Last year an agreement was signed between the Sheep Center and the NLPA that enables the Sheep Center funds to be utilized in the sheep and goat industries. The agreement allows NLPA to establish a revolving fund with NLPA that will be used exculsively for loans to the sheep and goat industries. According to the terms of the agreement, The Sheep and Goat Fund Committee is responsible for the oversight of this process.

The mission of the NLPA Sheep and Goat Fund is to encourage innovation and efficiency in the sheep and goat industries by providing credit to eligible and qualified entities. NLPA has established the following goals with the Sheep Center for the Sheep & Goat Fund:

• Make capital available for enhancing production methods and services.

• Improve marketing efficiency and product quality.

• Promote coordination and cooperation within the industry.

• Create opportunities for adding value to sheep and goat products.

For more information or an application please contact the National Livestock Producers Association at (800) 237-7193.  More information and the application are also available at www.nlpa.org.  The next deadline for applications is June 30, 2000.

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The National Livestock Producers Association, founded in 1921, is an organization of livestock marketing cooperatives and credit corporations representing more than 240,000 livestock producers nationwide and in Canada.