andybob
Well-known member
Funding Genetics
State grants available to help local farmers become global farmers
Originally published March 19, 2007
By Ike Wilson
News-Post Staff
BURKITTSVILLE -- Livestock breeders, companies and cooperatives wishing to sell their animals or genetics overseas can now apply for funding to offset the costs of certain marketing activities.
The recent announcement from the Maryland Department of Agriculture was a surprise to Wayne and Cindee Savage, who have been exporting Holstein embryos for 12 years from Savage-Leigh Farm. The Savages had not heard of the funding, nor had Ray Ediger of Green Spring Farm in Thurmont who has been in the genetics field for 35 years.
Chip Savage, one of two sons who helps run the family farm, said he couldn't comment on the funding until he had a chance to look into it. The Savages have to pay a fee each time embryos are shipped and for a United States government health certificate for the venture so any financial assistance will be appreciated, Chip Savage said.
Savage-Leigh Farm breeds Registered Holstein Cattle, focusing on high type and production. A struggling dairy industry forced the Savages to diversify, Cindee Savage said. They settled on exporting genetics overseas and still milk 200 cows twice a day.
"If you're just milking cows, you're struggling. The cost of feed is high and the cost of milk is low," Cindee Savage said. "Embryo export helps keep us in business."
The funds, which are available from the not-for-profit United States Livestock Genetic Export, Inc.'s (USLGE) Market Access Program, reimburses successful applicants for 50 percent of the cost of conducting international marketing activities. The goal of the matching program is to help U.S. breeders enter the international market place for the first time as well as to assist experienced exporters in reaching new markets, said Theresa Brophy, MDA's international marketing director.
Successful first-time applicants are awarded $4,000 for the first year so they could conduct $8,000 worth of marketing activities. Applicants can get more funding in succeeding years -- as much as $50,000, Brophy said.
Ms. Savage said the overseas markets look to the United States and Canada for superior genetics. "We do embryo transfer on our better cows. All of our Number One embryos that qualify for export are sent overseas," Ms. Savage said.
A certified embryo transfer veterinarian ensures that the nucleus to be sent abroad meets international standards, said Chip Savage. "You want to use the semen from some of the most elite bulls and insert it into some of the most elite cows" to generate high quality embryos, said Chip Savage. Using the best ingredients to come up with a superior product is a principle that's applicable, no matter what the commodity is, he said.
The semen is artificially inseminated into the cow with no change to the sperm. "There is no such thing as altered semen," said Cindee Savage.
The embryos are taken out of cows at seven days old. Embryos are graded, with Number One being the best of the lot and which embryo buyers prefer. The embryos are then frozen in liquid nitrogen and shipped. They must be thawed out before inserting into a cow. The shipped embryos are implanted in cows in Europe and Japan. The cows then carry the calf to full term.
Wayne Savage said the customers keep coming back to Savage -Leigh Farm for more embryos -- proof that the genetics are meeting the grade.
Ray Ediger, owner of Green Spring Farm in Thurmont, has been involved in Shorthorn Beef Cattle genetics for 35 years, but he doesn't export. The farm produces performance beef cattle, which, Ediger said converts feed to meat faster and more efficiently, making the endeavor more profitable.
"We don't export but we would like to," Ediger said. "That's the goal of a lot of people. It takes a long time to become known and there's a lot of marketing involved."
One of the Maryland Department of Agriculture's priorities is to help expand profitability for producers, said Agriculture Secretary Roger L. Richardson.
"The USLGE's Market Access Program has proven to be a very good and cost-effective way for Maryland producers to reach international buyers. We want Maryland livestock companies to be able to have the same success with the program," Richardson said.
Marketing activities include international advertising, the development, translation and distribution of printed promotional materials and participation in foreign trade shows and exhibitions.
USLGE administers the Market Access Program with funds from the United States Department of Agriculture and accepts and awards applications throughout the year. Applications need to include a marketing plan and are awarded in part on the completeness of the marketing plan and the anticipated economic impact the activity will have. Although there is no cost to apply for Market Access Program funding, successful applicants will be charged a $500 administrative fee.
A similar program for food products is administered by the Southern United States Trade Association. The USLGE Market Access Program application is available online at www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/07uslge_map.pdf.
Brophy said the MDA is developing a directory of livestock and genetics exporters. Interested farmers should contact her at 410-841-5770.
State grants available to help local farmers become global farmers
Originally published March 19, 2007
By Ike Wilson
News-Post Staff
BURKITTSVILLE -- Livestock breeders, companies and cooperatives wishing to sell their animals or genetics overseas can now apply for funding to offset the costs of certain marketing activities.
The recent announcement from the Maryland Department of Agriculture was a surprise to Wayne and Cindee Savage, who have been exporting Holstein embryos for 12 years from Savage-Leigh Farm. The Savages had not heard of the funding, nor had Ray Ediger of Green Spring Farm in Thurmont who has been in the genetics field for 35 years.
Chip Savage, one of two sons who helps run the family farm, said he couldn't comment on the funding until he had a chance to look into it. The Savages have to pay a fee each time embryos are shipped and for a United States government health certificate for the venture so any financial assistance will be appreciated, Chip Savage said.
Savage-Leigh Farm breeds Registered Holstein Cattle, focusing on high type and production. A struggling dairy industry forced the Savages to diversify, Cindee Savage said. They settled on exporting genetics overseas and still milk 200 cows twice a day.
"If you're just milking cows, you're struggling. The cost of feed is high and the cost of milk is low," Cindee Savage said. "Embryo export helps keep us in business."
The funds, which are available from the not-for-profit United States Livestock Genetic Export, Inc.'s (USLGE) Market Access Program, reimburses successful applicants for 50 percent of the cost of conducting international marketing activities. The goal of the matching program is to help U.S. breeders enter the international market place for the first time as well as to assist experienced exporters in reaching new markets, said Theresa Brophy, MDA's international marketing director.
Successful first-time applicants are awarded $4,000 for the first year so they could conduct $8,000 worth of marketing activities. Applicants can get more funding in succeeding years -- as much as $50,000, Brophy said.
Ms. Savage said the overseas markets look to the United States and Canada for superior genetics. "We do embryo transfer on our better cows. All of our Number One embryos that qualify for export are sent overseas," Ms. Savage said.
A certified embryo transfer veterinarian ensures that the nucleus to be sent abroad meets international standards, said Chip Savage. "You want to use the semen from some of the most elite bulls and insert it into some of the most elite cows" to generate high quality embryos, said Chip Savage. Using the best ingredients to come up with a superior product is a principle that's applicable, no matter what the commodity is, he said.
The semen is artificially inseminated into the cow with no change to the sperm. "There is no such thing as altered semen," said Cindee Savage.
The embryos are taken out of cows at seven days old. Embryos are graded, with Number One being the best of the lot and which embryo buyers prefer. The embryos are then frozen in liquid nitrogen and shipped. They must be thawed out before inserting into a cow. The shipped embryos are implanted in cows in Europe and Japan. The cows then carry the calf to full term.
Wayne Savage said the customers keep coming back to Savage -Leigh Farm for more embryos -- proof that the genetics are meeting the grade.
Ray Ediger, owner of Green Spring Farm in Thurmont, has been involved in Shorthorn Beef Cattle genetics for 35 years, but he doesn't export. The farm produces performance beef cattle, which, Ediger said converts feed to meat faster and more efficiently, making the endeavor more profitable.
"We don't export but we would like to," Ediger said. "That's the goal of a lot of people. It takes a long time to become known and there's a lot of marketing involved."
One of the Maryland Department of Agriculture's priorities is to help expand profitability for producers, said Agriculture Secretary Roger L. Richardson.
"The USLGE's Market Access Program has proven to be a very good and cost-effective way for Maryland producers to reach international buyers. We want Maryland livestock companies to be able to have the same success with the program," Richardson said.
Marketing activities include international advertising, the development, translation and distribution of printed promotional materials and participation in foreign trade shows and exhibitions.
USLGE administers the Market Access Program with funds from the United States Department of Agriculture and accepts and awards applications throughout the year. Applications need to include a marketing plan and are awarded in part on the completeness of the marketing plan and the anticipated economic impact the activity will have. Although there is no cost to apply for Market Access Program funding, successful applicants will be charged a $500 administrative fee.
A similar program for food products is administered by the Southern United States Trade Association. The USLGE Market Access Program application is available online at www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/07uslge_map.pdf.
Brophy said the MDA is developing a directory of livestock and genetics exporters. Interested farmers should contact her at 410-841-5770.
