Livestock Cost-Share Program Available for Tobacco Producers - reprinted from The Ohio Cattleman

The Ohio Cattlemen's Association is assisting the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation (SOACDF) to administer their Livestock Genetic Improvement Pilot Project. This program will help tobacco farmers improve the genetics of their existing livestock operations or to start raising quality livestock buy providing grants up to $2,000 for the purchase of breeding stock.

The Foundation, formed a little over a year ago with monies from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, is working to provide an economic cushion to the state's tobacco growing region as the market for tobacco products shrinks and production leaves the area.

All applicants for the Livestock Genetic Improvement Project must meet criteria established within the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation's grant guidelines. Grant recipients are eligible for a 50% cost-share up to but not exceeding:

• $2,000.00 toward purchase of Beef or Dairy breeding stock
• $500.00 toward the purchase of Swine breeding stock
• $500.00 toward the purchase of Sheep breeding stock

Semen from an A.I. service may be purchased and cost shared at up to one-half of that species' maximum amount. For beef and dairy semen, only semen with the CSS (Certified Semen Services) stamp would qualify for cost-share and there will be a $25 per straw limit.

All animals purchsed must have Expected Progeny Differrence (EPDs). The cost-share animal's EPDs must be higher than the breed's national average in a minimum of at least two categories. Only these EPDs will be available for cost-share on beef breeding stock: calving ease, birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk and any of the six carcass EPDs marbling, ribeye area, percent retail product or ultrasound EPDs for percent intramuscular fat, ribeye area or percent retail product. (FYI: 116 of the 137 bulls currently being evaluated at the Ohio Bull Test meet these minimum qualifications for cost share.) Applicants must provide proof of EPDs and an authentic bill of sale. The applicant's total purchase must be on one application.

OCA will administer the program for beef, dairy, swine or sheep breeding stock. The association will publish information with the national breed average EPDs for each of the species. Informational meetings are being planned to be held in Southern Ohio. Dates, times and locations may be found on the OSU Extension Beef Team Calendar or by contacting OCA.

Grant guidelines and applications should be available by mid-February at county OSU Extension offices and Farm Service Agency offices of the tobacco producing counties. Recertification of pounds of effective quota is not necessary if FSA has already done so for applicants of the Livestock Systems Pilot Project. Certification is mandatory for first-time applicants. Applications may also be obtained directly from the OCA office by calling 614-873-6736. Program implementation will be from March 1 to April 30, 2002. To be eligible for cost-share all breeding stock purchases must be made between March 1 and April 30.