Greenwood Village, CO — US Sheep and Lamb producers have a new opportunity to enhance the profitability and sustainability of their operations.
The American Lamb Board (ALB) has received a USDA Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) grant to help producers improve efficiencies and increase productivity.
The 150 producers accepted into the program will work with a Technical Assistance (TA) Provider to establish operational plans, implement recommended changes, and organize farm data to identify best management practices for productivity improvements by amplifying beneficial sheep practices, production data, and metrics specific to their operations and the region.
Producers enrolled in the program will be paid up to $23,000 to develop and implement improved sheep and land stewardship management practices such as prescribed grazing, cover crop planting, range planting, tree or shrub enhancement, silvopasture, cross-fencing and brush and pest (weed) management, among others.
Applications for enrollment are now open through May 1. Accepted producers will be notified by June 1, 2026. The program for each producer will begin as soon as the required eligibility documents have been filed and will end September 30, 2028.
More information and an application can be found at lambboard.com.
To qualify, a producer must:
- Establish Farm Records with the USDA Farm Service Agency.
- Complete an AD-2047 (Customer Data Worksheet to facilitate the collection of customer data for Business Partner Records).
- Certify that they are not a foreign person.
- Certify that they are not receiving funds from other government programs, such as EQIP, for the same practices on the same acreage.
- Agree to share farm data to calculate production efficiencies and management practices associated with implemented land stewardship management practices.
Application priority will be given to small or underserved producers, such as beginning, socially disadvantaged, women, and veteran farmers, as well as those with limited resources.
Once approved, producers in the program will be expected to:
- Document current farm operations such as grazing and cropping practices, manure management, and soil applications, as well as housing, feed and fuel usage to determine what best management practices would create the greatest advantage for the operation.
- Implement the on-farm strategies and best practices outlined in the farm plan.
- Provide information to the Research Team to identify the value of ecosystem services, such as biodiversity, watershed protection, removal of invasive weeds, fire mitigation, soil carbon sequestration, and landscaping, and to complete the appropriate data surveys and calculators.
- Complete a self-monitoring form, including before-and-after photos of the implemented practices.
- Complete on-site verification of implemented practices with the TA.
For the checkoff-funded American Lamb Board, sustainability is a top priority, along with producer productivity and profitability. ALB works on behalf of producers to share the industry’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being with consumers and retail and foodservice customers.
“This program is about more than just financial support — it’s about equipping American sheep producers with the tools and data they need to steward their land for the long term,” said David Fisher, president of the American Lamb Board. “By tying on-the-ground practices like prescribed grazing and cover cropping to measurable productivity gains, we’re helping producers strengthen both the resilience and the profitability of their operations for the next generation.”
ALB is excited to offer this opportunity to help producers continue to provide a wholesome, affordable, and sustainable product.
