Sheep Industry News July 2022

President’s Notes SUSAN SHULTZ ASI PRESIDENT

Working to Fulfill Our Vision

T he ASI Executive Board is looking forward to its joint meeting with the American Lamb Board this month and all the productive conversations and actions that can occur regarding the future of our industry. Thinking of the future of our industry, it is appropriate to focus on our ASI vision statement that we developed through our strategic planning process. Our vision is to produce a “Premium Protein and Premium Fiber that is Environmentally Regenerative and Economically Sustainable." So how do we work toward accomplishing that worthy vision? One thing we have learned through these past few years is that tems used to pro duce those items do not harm the environment. That is the perennial challenge of “feeding the world without harming the world." Those of us in production agriculture no longer work in a vacuum. Through the increased usage of social media and public awareness, our customers and consumers have given us a public face, whether we like it or not. I believe it is up to us to tell our story and spread the word about all the positive environmentally friendly practices we embrace in agriculture and specifically in the production of sheep. We have the knowledge to produce a premium protein and a premium fiber, but we need to remain vigilant to continue to produce our product in a consumer-friendly manner. We are fortunate to have a core group of outstanding scientists in our university and U.S. Department of Agricul American con sumers want to know the source of their food and fiber and that the production sys

ture Agricultural Research Service locations that are actively collaborating on research projects to improve the productiv ity of sheep production in tandem with reducing our carbon footprint. Both the recent American Lamb Board video – The Ameri can Lamb Story , featuring John Peavey – and the ASI Wool Council’s latest video – Unrivaled , featuring Cameron Krebs – are examples of sharing the positive story of our working to maintain a balanced ecosystem. These excellent videos focus on the production side of lamb and wool and can help educate

our consumers and the general public. You can view the Unrivaled video at fb.watch/ dwQA9mub8U/ and the ALB video at fb.watch/ dwQxYx5Kpd/. Several of our producers do a wonderful job of

ASI VISION Premier Protein , Premier Fiber Environmentally Regenerative, Economically Sustainable ASI MISSION

To support, promote and safeguard sheep production in the United States – representing and advancing the interests of member organizations, industry partners and individual sheep producers with advocacy, knowledge-based insights, communications, research and education. To identify, establish, advise, direct and/or support enterprises that benefit members.

telling their personal stories of raising sheep through vid eos, podcasts and social media sites, but we need more folks to share their positive actions. We all have a story to share, whether it is the story of targeted or managed grazing, incor porating improved genetics, using modern health protocols or the latest nutrition research in an effort to increase our efficiencies and decrease our environmental impact. ASI will continue to work together with ALB and our state affiliates and membership to share the story that our industry is a believer in producing premium products for our consum ers that are environmentally regenerative and economically sustainable. And that we are willing to work together to move our industry forward. My best.

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