American Sheep Magazine March 2026

MEETING COVERAGE

LEGISLATIVE & POLICY UPDATE: PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

ASI members gathered to focus on the most pressing issues, and the most realistic opportunities in today’s legislative climate. The conversation in cluded a look back at key developments from 2025 and a clear eyed discussion of what’s ahead for the sheep industry in 2026. A highlight of the meeting was a legislative up date from Kate Covington (U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry), who ad dressed several sheep and agriculture related provisions included in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill, along with ongoing conversations around ag labor and the potential for a “skinny farm bill” this year. Additional updates included Dr. Cindy Wolf (ASI Animal Health Committee Co-Chair) on progress under the MUMS Act and Larry Hoskins (ASI Legislative Chair) on farm labor and H-2A. The group also previewed priorities for ASI’s annual spring D.C. fly-in in March.

ASI’S D.C. TEAM AT CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ALSO SHARED PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS, INCLUDING: 1. Trade & imports: Building congressional support urging USTR to pursue a trade investigation into lamb imports. 2. Risk management: Exploring pathways for a sheep-specific risk-management tool. 3. Wool support: Outreach to USDA to include wool in the newly announced Farm Bridge Assistance Program.

NATURAL RESOURCES UPDATE: PUBLIC LANDS, PREDATORS, AND SOLAR

ASI Resource Council mem bers met to review the most press ing natural resources issues affecting sheep production from environ mental regulations and grazing ac cess to predator management, big horn sheep interactions, and the growing role of solar grazing. Jessica Fantinato, Deputy Administrator for USDA Wildlife Services, shared current tools and research focused on predator man agement, including updates related to M-44s and other control strat egies. The group also heard from

ASI affiliate Public Lands Council (PLC). Garrett Edmonds (Director) and Robbie LeValley (Board Mem ber) provided a regulatory and legis lative update, including PLC’s work around NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, and grazing permitting frameworks, along with bills aimed at improving predator management and grazing access. Debbie Webster, a produc er from South Carolina and board member with the National Graz ing Lands Council (NatGLC), dis cussed how canceled grant funding

has affected producers and how NatGLC is helping members adapt. Alison Crane (Wyoming Wool Growers) shared updates on big horn sheep issues at both state and federal levels, including emerging opportunities for policy change. The session wrapped with Stacie Peterson and Kevin Richards of the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA), who outlined how shifts in the solar market are creating new contract and revenue opportunities for sheep producers.

18