Sheep Industry News April 2022

Sheep Producers Return To Our Nation's Capital

L egislative fly-ins such as the ASI Spring Trip have been nearly non-existent since March of 2020 when sheep producers were the last ones to visit with congressional delegations before the United States government went into a COVID-19 lockdown. But that drought came to end last month as sheep producers returned to the nation's capital. "It was so wonderful to be back in Washington, D.C., this spring," said ASI President Susan Shultz of Ohio. "Everyone from the agency representatives we met with to Congressional leaders and their staffs seemed happy to see constituents back in town. Visiting our senators and representatives on the Hill is always a highlight, but we were also honored to meet with several government agencies who understand the important role our industry can play reaching the administra tion's climate goals." U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm Produc tion and Conservation Robert Bonnie reiterated his belief that sheep have a positive story to tell about the valuable role they can play in reversing climate change and aiding in wildfire suppression. Janet Bucknall of Wildlife Services once again pledged her agency's support for dealing with the many predator issues that have always plagued the sheep industry. "We also heard from Farm Service Administrator Zach Duch eneaux – who we met with at our Executive Board meeting in South Dakota last summer – and he's another great supporter of the sheep

industry," Shultz said. "We also met with the U.S. Forest Service because the American sheep industry is really at the forefront of targeted grazing, which is so important for their fire suppression and climate change priorities." Priorities for sheep producers haven't changed much since their last visit to Washington, D.C., in 2020. Producers talked with their congressional delegations about such things as: international trade, mandatory price reporting, foreign labor and pharmaceuticals for minor species. At the same time, they were able to thank budget mak ers for increased support of the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station and Wildlife Services in the most recent appropriations bill that will carry through until the end of the fiscal year. For the USSES in Dubois, Idaho, the bill contained $4.2 million for improvements to the buildings and facilities, as well as an additional $500,000 in rangeland research funding. The bill also provided ad ditional funding for Wildlife Services, providing $116 million for Wildlife Damage Management and $23 million for Methods Develop ment. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Equine, Cervid and Small Ruminant Health line item – covering the scrapie surveillance program – was increased to $32 million. The two-day trip concluded with a reception at The Monocle on March 16 as congressional staffers were treated to an American lamb dinner.

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