ASI Joins Request to Fund Animal Sciences

• April 2015
  • President’s Notes
  • ASI Takes Sheep Issues to D.C.
  • ‘Let’s Grow’ Points to South Dakota Success
  • Fight to Keep Sheep Station Open Continues
  • Workshop Provides Insight to Fall Lambing
  • ASI Joins Request to Fund Animal Sciences
  • LRP-Lamb Expected to Be Made Available in May
  • Market Report
  • Nominations for Lamb Board Due May 1
  • Sheepherder rule proposals are expected
  • U.S. Forest Service Risk Assessment Study Could Borrow From Wyoming’s Sheep Plan
  • News Briefs
  • Classifieds April 2015

The American Sheep Industry Association joined 85 other national and state associations in requesting support for $10 million in appropriations for Section 1433 Continuing Animal Health and Disease, Food Security and Stewardship Research, Education and Extension Programs in the fiscal year 2016 Agriculture Appropriations bill. 

The 2014 Farm Bill includes an important expansion of Section 1433 to establish a new competitive research grants mechanism to address critical priorities in food security, one health and stewardship. The expanded authority came in response to a historic funding disparity for the animal sciences and represents a strong opportunity to address significant challenges facing animal agriculture.
 

Investment in the animal sciences has been declining for many years as was highlighted by the National Academy of Sciences in its report “Critical Role of Animal Science Research in Food Security and Sustainability” that was released in January 2015. The report recognizes the historic underfunding of animal sciences and calls for increased investments. 

 As the world’s population grows and natural resources become limited, animal agriculture research is necessary to improve efficiency in order to continue providing safe and abundant food supplies for the growing global community. It is imperative that the increased food production be done in a manner that will protect our natural resources while maintaining America’s global competitiveness in producing animals and animal products.