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MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 



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Montana Department of Agriculture 



March-Apnl 2003 



"The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today's work superbly well." -Sir William Osler- 



USLGE ANNUAL MEETING 



The 2003 annual meeting of U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. (USLGE) took place in Las Vegas, Nevada January 29-31, 

 2003. USLGE is a nationwide livestock-specific, not-for-profit, trade association representing the international market development 

 interests of the U.S. dairy, beef, sheep, swine and horse breeding industries. Their representation encompasses the embryo and 

 semen industry, livestock export sector, plus leading state Departments of Agriculture from top livestock producing states across 

 the Umted States. 



USLGE staff, in addition to staff members from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.-China Agricultural Economic & 

 Trade Promotion Council and U.S. Holstein Association presented an array of useful information at the seminar. Topics included: 

 global marketing strategies, a national animal identification and tracking system, mtemational livestock market development and 

 USDA support of U.S. livestock market activities. 



USLGE members in attendance came from across the U.S. from several state departments of agriculture and private livestock 

 industry organizations. The annual meeting provides members a chance to discuss livestock marketing ideas with other industry 

 leaders, while gaining insight on Unified Export Strategy applications. Members fUl out applications through USLGE to receive 

 funding from USDA's Foreign Ag Service to perform international marketing activities. Momes are granted based upon activity 

 descnptions, market potential and constraints, past results and strategic planning. 



Misti Pilster, Livestock & Meat Marketing Officer for the Montana Department of Agriculture, attended the seminar. For more 

 information contact Misti Pilster at (406) 444-2402 or by email at agr@state.mt.us. 



INTERNATIONAL MARKETING 



WUSATA BRANDED PROGRAM 2003-2004 



MONTANA -ALBERTA AGRICULTURE 

 OPPORTUNTTIES CONFERENCE 



It's that time of the year again. WUSATA will soon begin the pre- 

 qualifying process for Branded Funds application for FY2003-2004. This 

 year's timeline is as follows: 



April -June 



July 1" 



August 



September 



October V 



September 3T', 2004 



November 30*, 2004 



Applicants Pre-Qualify 

 Application Deadline 

 States rate applications 

 Dollars allocated 

 Program Year begins 

 Program Year ends 

 Final Claims due 



A Branded Program seminar will be held m Boise, Idaho, on April 16, 

 2003. This IS a good opportumty for all compames planning foreign 

 market activities, from first-timers to those expanding their portfolio of 

 export markets. For details and to sign up, contact Alexa Hamilton, 

 Branded Programs Director, WUSATA, at 360-693-3373 or by email 

 alexa@wusata.org. One of this year's many updates and improvements 

 to the program is a fully automated application process via WUSATA's 

 website. 



The Branded Program is a cost-share funding program that supports 

 the promotion of brand name* food and agricultural products in foreign 

 markets. By providing participants with 50 percent cost reimbursement 

 for eligible marketing and promotional activities, this program enables 

 companies to effectively break mto new foreign markets. (*The term 

 "brand name" is used loosely here. Companies promoting products via 

 private label and bulk sales are often eligible.) 



For more information on the Branded Program and its use in Montana, 

 contact Sarah Goan, the Department's International Marketing Officer, 

 at (406) 444-2402 or by email at agr@state.mt.us. 



The Montana Department of Agriculture and Alberta 

 Agriculture Food & Rural Development wiU hold the 

 biennial Montana - Alberta Agriculture Opportunities 

 Conference on June 16 and 17, 2003 in Great Falls, MT. 

 This conference is an oppormnity for agricultural businesses, 

 trading partners, and producers to gather information and 

 address trade issues between Montana and Alberta. The 

 conference also serves as a forum for the respective 

 industries to provide guidance and recommendations to 

 state and provincial agricultural trade policy makers. Agenda 

 topics include crop and pesticide harmonization, livestock 

 and animal health, agribusiness and transportation. There 

 will also be panel discussions regarding exchange rates and 

 their impacts, and domestic support and subsidies to 

 agriculture producers. 



SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING 



The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a 504- 

 loan program to those entrepreneurs requiring a loan 

 guarantee larger than $500,000. This long term 

 financing program provides long-term fixed-rate 

 financing for land and buildings. The borrowers have 

 to be able to prove that the intended loan will have a 

 favorable economic impact such as new job creation, 

 etc. Exceptions do exist for businesses owned by 

 veterans, women and others. For more information, 

 contact your local SBA office at www. sba.gov. 



