Sheep Industry News June 2023

SheepIndustry Volume 27, Issue 6 June 2023

News

June 2023 Volume 27, Issue 6

Contents

4

President’s Notes

6

Market Report

11 30

ASI Member Listing

28

Breeders' Directory

Industry Calendar

ON THE COVER: John Brasfield and his wife, Laurie, raise both registered Dorsets and Hamp-Suffolk cross sheep on their small farm in North Carolina.

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2 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Joe Pozzi Several years removed from his role as the Region VIII representative to the ASI Executive Board, Joe Pozzi was elected earlier this year as secretary/treasurer for the associa tion. A fourth-generation rancher, he’s taken the family operation in a handful of new directions that eas ily show the value of niche market ing for both lamb and coarse wool.

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20 Smart Climate Grant

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Maryland Festival

Saturday morning at the Mary land Sheep and Wool Festival felt like a rock concert. It was abuzz with excitement and anticipation with fiber enthusiasts itching to get their hands on the best fleeces and yarn.

With Fibershed among a group of applicants that was awarded a $30 million Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities grant last fall from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American sheep industry celebrated its inclusion in the program.

John Brasfield Running 100 ewes on 10 (and a half) acres, John Brasfield has an operation that Western producers can only imagine. Welcome to North Carolina, where intensive grazing and high stocking rates aren’t just a dream.

ASI Photo Contest

It’s time to start sorting through those great photos you took the past few years and prepare to enter them in the 2023 ASI Photo Contest. Win ning entries will be featured in the October issue of the Sheep Industry News.

June 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 3

President’s Notes BRAD BONER ASI PRESIDENT ASI Investigating Trade Case

O n April 25, the ASI Executive Board approved the following motion: to move forward with the preliminary investiga tion on dumping and countervailing duties, with ASI Guard Dog funds only and ASI’s choice of a law firm. On May 3, the Executive Board approved the following motion: that ASI engage the firm of Kelley Drye to conduct a preliminary investigation of lamb imports and violation of U.S. trade laws. The legal agreement with the firm should not obli gate ASI beyond the preliminary investigation. This action was in response to a letter sent to ASI from eight member states and the National Lamb Feeders Association in April who requested ASI investigate if there is any evidence to support a trade case against any country/countries importing lamb into the United States. In the first phase of any successful trade case, the focus is on the affected U.S. industry and whether it can prove it is being materially injured or threatened with material injury; and, if so, whether an increase in imports is a “l cause” thereof. As part of the investigative phase, surveys will be sent to individuals and companies involved in the American sheep industry. If you receive one of these surveys, it is important to please take the time to fill it out. The compiled results we receive will be one of the factors used to determine whether we move forward to a petition or not. All results received will be aggregated and individual company information will remain confidential. The volume of imported lamb imported into the United States has increased during the last several years along with consumer demand for lamb. The result has been that domestic lamb has lost market share to imports, with the vast majority of gains in consumer demand going to imported lamb meat products. That fact in and of itself is not reason enough to win a trade case against importing countries. We must be able to show that the country/countries are “dumping” lamb products into the United States. Dumping occurs when a country or company exports a product at a price that is lower in the foreign importing market than the price in the U.S. market. Dumping can occur also if the U.S. sales prices are below the fully allocated constructed costs plus a reasonable profit in the foreign home market. Therefore, just because imported products are priced below those of similar domestic products in the United States does not meet the definition of “dumping.” In addition, if there is dumping, a duty will be imposed to offset the amount of the “dumping margin.” If it is determined that the dumping margin is low, then the potential low additional duties may not warrant continued efforts to continue with a legal case. If the dumping margins are moderate to high – and therefore the remedy may also be mod erate to high – then pursuing a legal remedy makes much more economic sense. The other potential remedy is a countervailing case. A countervailing duty is a tariff imposed to “offset” or “countervail” foreign government subsidies on certain products or goods. To be successful with this type of case, it would have to be proven that the importing country/countries were subsidizing their producers with government payments of some kind. The level of potential remedy (duty) in this type of case is also subject to the amount of subsidies being provided by the importing country/ countries. The trade law firm we have retained for the investigation phase anticipates the investigation to determine the strength of our case will take between 60 and 90 days. It is important that our investigation remain confidential. Please do not discuss this with suppliers, customers or anyone out side of your company or the participating lamb organizations. If you have any questions, please contact ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick at peter@sheepusa.org or myself. Please, stay tuned as we move down this path. Until then, keep it on the sunny side.

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SheepIndustry NEWS June 2023: Volume 27, Issue 6

Na tional Sheep Improvement Program Sales

AMERICAN SHEEP INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION INC. 9785 Maroon Circle, Suite 360 Englewood, CO 80112-2692 Phone: 303-771-3500 • Fax: 303-771-8200 info@sheepusa.org • Sheepusa.org

June 21, 2023 NSIP influenced online replacement ewe sale on Production Livestock Auctions. July 11 - 13, 2023 NSIP online ram and ewe sales on Production Livestock Auctions. July 29, 2023 Center of the Nation Sale, Spencer, IA September 20, 2023 NSIP influenced online re placement ewe sale on Production Livestock Auc tions. For more information on consigning or buying check out the NSIP webpage or check with Jerry Sorenson (712 - 579 - 1511), Matt Benz (701 - 870 4135), Alan Culham (517 - 896 - 7378) or Rusty (515 708 - 8850).

EDITOR/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Kyle Partain COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Parand Rezaei

ASI Office Staff: Peter Orwick, Executive Director Rita Kourlis Samuelson, Deputy Director/Wool Marketing Larry Kincaid, Chief Financial Officer Zahrah Khan, Operations Manager Erica Sanko, Director of Analytics & Production Programs Christa Rochford, Wool Marketing Programs Manager Heather Pearce, Wool Production Programs Manager Chris Jones, Administrative Assistant The Sheep Industry News is published monthly as the official publication of the American Sheep Industry Association Inc. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Payment of member dues in an ASI affiliated state organization entitles a member to a subscription. For non-members, the subscription rate is $50 per year. ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Rates available at Sheepusa.org. Deadline is the fifth of the month preceding the cover date. All advertising is subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume all liability for their advertising content. Publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaint about service or product. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in Sheep Industry News.

A Tradition of Integrity

Call us about selling your wool at our sales or by Private Treaty. It’s not just our motto, It’s our reputation. mwc1983@roswellwool.com www.roswellwool.com 1-800-624-WOOL Mike Corn, Manager

The American Sheep Industry Association is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send to info@sheepusa.org

Roswell, NM

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Bakersfield, CA

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Mertzon, TX

June 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 5

Market Report TYLER COZZENS, PH.D.

Livestock Marketing Information Center

PRICES STEADY, LAMB PRODUCTION FORECAST TO DECLINE SLIGHTLY

N ow that the Easter holiday has passed, that means sum mer is quickly arriving. The outlook for lamb production is expected to decrease in 2023 as decreased weights more than offset a marginal increase in lamb slaughter levels. Feeder and slaughter lamb prices have been holding strong through the spring time and are expected to hold steady for the remainder of the year. SHEEP & LAMB PRODUCTION First quarter production statistics showed a 6.2-percent increase in commercial sheep and lamb slaughter over last year to 516,400 head. The increase compared to last year is partly due to the timing of the Easter holiday, which came earlier than normal on April 9. Weekly lamb and yearling slaughter once again showed a strong rally leading up to Easter. The four weeks leading up to Easter averaged just more than 40,000 head per week with a range between 38,703 to 41,614 head. Last year, the four weeks leading up to Easter saw weekly lamb and yearling slaughter average about 38,000 per week. As slaughter levels ramped up, weekly dressed weights started to decline quickly as lambs were pulled through the supply chain for slaughter. Through the first quarter of the year, lamb and yearling dressed weights averaged 65.3 pounds versus 67.7 pounds last year – a decline of more than 3 percent. Weekly data shows lamb and year ling dressed weight declined in the weeks leading up to the Easter holiday and reached a low of 59 pounds the week of Easter. Since the low, weekly lamb and yearling dressed weights have risen marginally, which is the typical seasonal pattern for this time of

year. The decline in dressed weights more than offset higher slaugh ter levels during the first quarter, which led to a nearly 5-percent increase in commercial lamb production to 33 million pounds. The Livestock Marketing Information Center is forecasting commercial sheep and lamb slaughter to be up marginally by half a percent for 2023 to almost 2.1 million head. Dressed weights are expected to moderate lower leading to an annual decline of 3 percent for commercial lamb production to 127.6 million pounds for 2023. LAMB & MUTTON TRADE March trade statistics were recently released and first quarter to tals for the year show lamb imports were down 5.5 million pounds – 8.5 percent – to 59.2 million pounds. First quarter imports declined from both Australia and New Zealand. Imports from Australia during the first quarter were 42.6 million pounds, a 7.5-percent or 3.4-million-pound decrease from the same period last year. Ship ments from New Zealand fell 2.4 million pounds – 13.5 percent – to 15.6 million pounds in the first quarter. Mutton imports declined 17.2 percent during the first quarter to 19.5 million pounds. Lower mutton imports were due to a 21.1-per cent decrease in shipments from Australia to 16.9 million pounds. This more than offset a 53.1-percent increase in mutton imports from New Zealand, totaling nearly 2.5 million pounds. Annual lamb and mutton imports are expected to moderate lower about 9 percent for 2023 to 327 million pounds. Australia will be the main factor influencing U.S. lamb imports. The most recent forecast available for Australian lamb production is pegged to be a record, rising 3.5 percent above 2022, which was the prior record. Higher production will lead to larger exportable lamb supplies for Australian lamb. Exchange rates will be a factor in determining Australia’s competitiveness to export lamb. The Australian dollar has moved higher compared to the U.S. dollar, making Australian lamb more expensive or less price competitive. LAMB & MUTTON IN COLD STORAGE The most recent data available for lamb and mutton cold stor age stocks is for the month of March. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported lamb and mutton stock levels at 25.4 million pounds, down 11 percent or just over 3 million pounds from the prior month. Compared to a year ago, stock levels are up almost 6 percent

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or 1.4 million pounds. Seasonally, lamb and mutton stocks gradually climb through the summer months before a drawdown during the fourth quarter holiday season. LAMB PRICES The first quarter three-market (Colo., S.D. and Texas) average feeder lamb price was $177.50 per cwt., down 45 percent from last year’s first quarter record level of $325.13 per cwt. In April, the three-market feeder lamb price averaged $210.38 per cwt. with some momentum carrying into prices during the first part of May. LMIC is forecasting the annual three-market feeder lamb price to range from $174 to $182 per cwt., down 24 percent from last year. Slaughter lamb prices (national, negotiated, live) averaged $134.25 per cwt. during the first quarter, down 40 percent from the first quar ter of last year, which was $224.17 per cwt. Prices in April averaged $156.83 per cwt., up more than $12 per cwt. from the first quarter’s average price, but more than 28 percent below prices in April 2022. LMIC is forecasting annual slaughter lamb prices to range from $140 to $148 per cwt., down 17 percent from 2022. The lamb cutout value has been trending slightly lower since the start of the year from $473.40 per cwt. to $447.42 per cwt. the first week of May. Compared to last year, on average the lamb cutout value has been tracking about 25 percent or $146 per cwt. below last year’s levels each week since the start of the year. Compared to the five-year average – 2017 to 2021 – the lamb cutout value has been tracking 30 percent or

just over $100 per cwt. higher, on average, since the start of the year. Values for the rack, loin, leg and shoulder have been holding steady or trending slightly lower since the start of the year. WOOL Wool prices across the various microns were mixed during April, but were generally showing marginal improvement at the start of May. During the month of April, prices for the finer micron wools – 17 to 19 – mostly continued the downward trend that started in March. April saw prices slide lower another 1 to 3 percent. At the start of May, fine wool prices were up marginally. Prices for medium micron wools – 20 to 24 microns – saw modest gains in April with the trend continuing into the first part of May. The 25- to 32-micron wools were slightly lower through most of April but were showing improvement at the start of May. As discussed earlier, exchange rates are a factor in the competitive ness of wool trade globally. In recent months, the Australian dollar has strengthened relative to the U.S. dollar. A strengthening Australian dollar means that Australian wool exports are more expensive, which

could limit Australia’s competitiveness to export wool globally. Conversely, a weakening U.S. dollar can lead to American wool exports being relatively more price competitive globally. The flip side to this would be a stronger Australian dollar would mean that Australia can import goods relatively cheaper, while a relatively weaker U.S. dol lar would make U.S. imported goods more expensive. AMERICAN POLYPAY SHEEP ASSOCIATION Maternal Power Plus...

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June 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 7

ASI’s Hubbard Offers Farm Bill Testimony

A SI Executive Board member Laurie Hub bard of Pennsylvania testified at A Review of Animal Agriculture Stakeholder Pri orities hearing before the U.S. House’s Committee on Agricul ture on May 17 in Washington, D.C. What follows is the written testimony provided to the com mittee. STATE OF AMERICAN LAMB & WOOL Price inflation, labor chal

exported, with 72 percent of those exports destined for China. The ensuing global pandemic resulted in the closure of key international markets and drastically altered consumer demand for apparel prod ucts. The Chinese trade tariffs and the lost markets for American wool drove wool prices down and large supplies of wool into storage. We have classes of wool today that bring only pennies per pound to producers and the impending closure of the Mid-States Wool Cooperative headquartered in Ohio is a major concern for Midwest and Eastern sheep producers. The American Sheep Industry Association strongly supports reauthorization of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill). The Farm Bill should provide producers with a reasonable safety net for market risk, encourage rural growth, and support the production of food and fiber. RISK MANAGEMENT The 2018 Farm Bill authorized nonrecourse marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments for wool to eligible producers who grow and shear wool. This safety net needs to be drastically improved to address current market conditions including inflation and supply chain disruptions. Illustrative of how little support the wool commodity program provides, our records indicate over the life of the 2018 Farm Bill – specifically the 2019-2022 crop years – the commodity program supporting wool has only expended approximately $12.5 million. The national loan rates for graded and ungraded wool were established in 2002 and have not been adjusted since to keep pace with the market and producer costs. The outdated rates creating an ineffective support program, coupled with the recent low levels of producer income, is why ASI is supporting a re examination of the wool loan rate and an adjustment so that sheep producers have one effective risk management tool. The American lamb industry is currently without a market-based risk management program. As the lamb industry continues to face market challenges due to pandemic related market disturbances, lamb producers and feeders do not have the tools to address higher feed and input prices, price instability and increased market risk. The increase in interest rates is also going to impact sheep producers and lamb feeders needing to secure capital to sustain their opera tions. The data gaps in Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting result ing in the corresponding lack of published prices led the industry to support USDA’s withdrawal of Livestock Risk Protection – Lamb in 2021. LRP-Lamb was a federal lamb price insurance product and the only risk protection product available to lamb producers and feeders to hedge their risk. ANIMAL DISEASE PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT An outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the United States would have a devastating impact on the sheep and wool industry.

lenges, lamb imports and ongoing economic uncertainty are pres suring the American lamb and wool businesses. These are in turn impacting the sustainability of the sheep industry. There is some optimism as consumer interest in sustainability has become more mainstream and is providing opportunities for our industry as wool is being recognized as a natural regenerative fiber for performance wear, and the vast environmental benefits of targeted grazing with sheep, are being recognized by private and public land managers and solar developers across the country. We are fortunate to have an American lamb checkoff program, which proved invaluable during the disruptions of the recent years. According to the American Lamb Board, the Covid pandemic caused huge losses within lamb’s fundamental fine dining market but created opportunities for retail sales and at-home consumption. While consumers are buying lamb, elevated price levels have made it difficult for lamb to compete with other proteins. More product is coming from imports, usually with a significant price advantage over American lamb. The non-traditional or ethnic market – with demand for smaller carcasses – has grown and cultural preferences are creating new opportunities for our industry. The pandemic led to the loss of a major lamb processor in 2020, yet smaller processors are emerging and being embraced by a society seeking a more local supply structure. High production costs have made it more costly to get lamb to the consumer and the inflationary environment has im pacted consumer’s willingness to purchase American lamb. Producer and lamb feeder profit margins have been pressured as lamb prices have not kept pace with higher input costs and feed prices. I would note that commercial lamb feeders have been unprofit able for 13 consecutive months. The American wool industry continues to endure several chal lenges which are adversely impacting American wool producers. The American wool market is heavily dependent on the export market. Over the last decade, approximately 67 percent of American wool is

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That is why the American Sheep Industry Association is supporting several efforts aimed at safeguarding sheep production and pro moting business continuity in the face of a foreign animal disease outbreak. ASI strongly supports continued funding of the animal disease prevention and management programs established in the 2018 Farm Bill. These programs include the National Annual Vaccine and Vet erinary Countermeasures Bank – which is the only vaccine bank that allows USDA to stockpile animal vaccines and related products to use in the event of an outbreak of FMD or other high-impact foreign animal diseases – the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and the National Veterinary Stockpile. All these programs are vital to protecting the United States livestock industry against a foreign animal disease outbreak. MINOR USE MINOR SPECIES DRUG PROGRAM America’s sheep producers have limited means to protect and prevent disease in their animals as animal health and welfare are critical aspects for ensuring a sustainable sheep industry. The cost to bring a new animal drug to market is rising and many pharmaceuti cal companies are not investing in developing products for sheep. USDA established the Minor Use Animal Drug Program to address the shortage of animal drugs for minor species and uses by funding and overseeing the efficacy, animal safety, and human food safety research and environmental assessment required for Food and Drug Administration drug approval. Funding for this program ceased in 2016, and as a result the program lacks the staff and expertise to meet its mission of increas ing the number of therapeutic drugs approved for minor animal species. To remedy this, ASI supports an annual allocation to USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Minor Use Animal Drug Program of $5 million to fund research and development to support the approval of new drug products for sheep. MANDATORY PRICE REPORTING Ensuring there is not a lapse in Livestock Mandatory Price Re porting is critical to the United States sheep industry. Unfortunately for sheep producers, LMR has not adjusted to changes in the lamb industry. Of particular concern is the implementation of the current LMR confidentiality guideline, which restricts market information available to sheep producers. In 2011, there were 13 reports under mandatory price reporting for lamb. Today, there are only five re ports available, all of which are national reports released on a weekly basis. Of these five reports, the amount of information provided in the slaughter lamb report has increasingly diminished over the years with the data on formula traded lambs not being reported since 2020. The American Sheep Industry Association has proposed sev eral potential changes to LMR that we believe would enhance the

program’s effectiveness for lamb producers while protecting the interests of everyone in the supply chain. The first recommendation is to change or replace the 3/70/20 Confidentiality Guideline. This guideline is not required by statute and current market prices have a relatively short-term relevance. By the time prices are reported, they only reflect past transactions. Prices and market activity can be re ported without sacrificing confidentiality and the current confiden tiality guideline by USDA is stifling the information lamb producers need to make accurate marketing decisions. Additionally, ASI has recommended that USDA amend LMR, so it reflects the unique nature of today’s lamb industry and is in discussions on developing a lamb contracts library pilot program based on the recent program for cattle. ASI believes these changes would greatly enhance the program for all users. TRADE The lamb market in the United States is heavily influenced by imported lamb, particularly from Australia and New Zealand, which make up over 50 percent of total lamb sales. The American Sheep In dustry Association in response has asked successive administrations to prioritize lamb export opportunities for United States producers before allowing additional imports. Our industry still cannot access potentially lucrative markets like China, the European Union and the United Kingdom; this despite the opening of our market in 2021 to imported lamb from the United Kingdom. The domestic industry’s ability to withstand additional import pressure at this challenging time, and the United Kingdom’s tremendous potential for significant lamb exports in the wake of their departure from the European Union is a concern for United States lamb producers. A cautious and deliberative approach is necessary to ensure that while trade may be free, it is fair. Wool trade too remains a challenge. While we have seen an increase in wool shipments to China, numbers are still significantly lower than they were prior to the tariff retaliation. Additionally, shipping challenges continue to mount. The same holds true for the export of pelts. Prior to the implementation of tariffs, 72 percent of American raw wool exports and 80 percent of sheep skins were sent to China. Continuing to build strength in the international market ing of lamb and wool requires a commitment to the promotion and export of United States wool to export markets through strong USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Program funding. ASI supports increased funding for FAS programs including the Market Access Program, the Foreign Market Development Program and the Qual ity Samples Program. These programs are vital for providing value to America’s wool producers through expanding export markets for American wool and sheepskins. H-2A WORKERS The American Sheep Industry Association has a decades long history of a reliable, consistent, and legal workforce. Sheep ranchers

June 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 9

depend on the H-2A sheepherder program to help care for and pro tect more than one-third of the ewes and lambs in the United States. To meet those needs, the industry has participated in temporary visa programs – in various forms – since the 1950s. As a result, sheep producers employ a legal labor force with an estimated eight Ameri can jobs created/supported by each foreign worker employed. A workable temporary foreign labor program is essential for the sheep industry, including the special procedures for herding in future legis lation involving immigration reform. ACCESS TO ANIMAL DRUGS With 5 million head of sheep, animal drug manufacturers often find that securing FDA approval for new, innovative and even older products is not cost effective for this market. While the Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2004 is intended to make more products legally available for minor animal species, the current FDA animal drug-approval process is unworkable for the sheep industry. It is prohibitively expensive, which is discouraging the development of products for the prevention and treatment of sheep diseases in the United States. The lack of access to these products which are used by our competitors in other countries, places the United States sheep producers at a disadvantage, not to mention limiting their ability to ensure the welfare of their animals and the safety of the national food supply. While imported lamb may be treated with a product that has a USDA/Food Safety Inspection Service accepted residue level, that

same product often is not approved for use in the United States by the FDA. ASI is requesting a study by the General Accountability Office on the MUMS Act to evaluate if the objectives set forth are being met with respect to sheep, the effectiveness of the incentives to address the high development costs, the cost and duration to bring a new animal drug product to market versus other countries, and to review the number of products for sheep in the United States relative to the those available in our competing markets. PREDATION Coyotes, mountain lions, wolves and bears kill tens of thousands of lambs each year. Livestock losses attributed to these predators cost producers more than $232 million annually. American sheep pro ducers rely on USDA/Wildlife Services, state and county programs to effectively control and manage predation by state managed and federally protected predatory species. The Livestock protection program is majority funded by indus try and local cooperators. Sheep producers have adopted many techniques to reduce predation, including the wide-spread use of livestock protection dogs, but access to lethal and non-lethal preda tor control methods must be maintained. We add our support for Congressional action to provide us more options to address avian predators, primarily the black vulture which is expanding its range and increasingly the primary predator in areas of the United States. Thank you for your support of the livestock industry and for al lowing me to visit with you about our priorities.

Grant Applications Due This Summer to NSIIC

T he National Sheep Industry Improvement Center will accept 2023 grant proposals from July 1 through Sept. 15. The NSIIC board of directors encourages grants, programs and proposals that align with priorities es tablished during the listening sessions and are consistent with the sheep cen ter’s mission statement. The primary objective of NSIIC’s Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program is to fund projects determined by industry leaders to be priorities for benefitting the American sheep industry. That includes projects that: • Strengthen and enhance the pro duction and marketing of sheep and sheep products in the United States

of sheep and sheep products. • Promote marketing of sheep and sheep products through an organized method that can measure tangible results. • Enhance the sheep industry by coordinating information exchange and by seeking mutual understanding and marketing within the industry community. There is no dollar limit on grant ap plications, however the average grant is $29,000. All projects have approxi mately 18 months to be completed. However, if circumstances warrant a longer time period, a no-cost exten sion may be requested. For more information, visit NSIIC. org or email stevelee@nsiic.org.

through the improvement of infra structure, business, resource develop ment and the development of innova tive approaches to solve long term problems. • Provide leadership training and education to industry stakeholders. • Enhance sheep and sheep prod ucts in the U.S. through assistance to all segments of the industry to address sustainable production and marketing

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ASI Member Listing WWW.SHEEPUSA.ORG l INFO@SHEEPUSA.ORG

VOTING MEMBERS

National Lamb Feeders Association 605-224-0224 • lambfeeders@outlook.com Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Association 308-386-8378 • Ne.sheep.goat@gmail.com Nevada Wool Growers Association 775-934-8860 • pr_paris@yahoo.com New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Growers nhswga@nhswga.org Garden State Sheep Breeders Inc. (N.J.) 609-947-2260 • kmelvinnjsheep@gmail.com New Mexico Wool Growers Inc. 505-247-0584 • nmwgi@nmagriculture.org Empire Sheep Producers Cooperative (N.Y.) 585-367-2775 • sheepkath@aol.com North Carolina Sheep Producers Assoc. Inc. 919-522-4110 • wewillservethelord@nc.rr.com North Dakota Lamb & Wool Producers Assoc. 701-333-8009 • curtsheep@gmail.com Ohio Sheep Improvement Association 614-499-2931 • rhigh@ofbf.org Oregon Sheep Growers Association 503-364-5462 • info@sheeporegon.com Pennsylvania Sheep & Wool Growers Association 814-880-3314 • psushepherd@yahoo.com South Carolina Sheep Industries Association 864-360-3222 • debbiewebster615@gmail.com South Dakota Sheep Growers Association 406-581-7772 • lisa@sdsheepgrowers.org Tennessee Sheep Producers Association 931-510-1322 • info@tennesseesheep.org Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers’ Association 325-655-7388 • tsgra@wcc.net Utah Wool Growers Association 435-915-6119 • sierra@utahwoolgrowers.com Vermont Sheep & Goat Association 802-899-2104 • settlementfarm@comcast.net Virginia Sheep Producers Association 540-231-9159 • sgreiner@vt.edu Washington State Sheep Producers 360-999-8118 • washingtonsheep@gmail.com West Virginia Shepherds Federation 304-445-1516 • wvashepherds@yahoo.com Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative 608-743-9080 • wisconsinsheepbreeders@gmail.com

Alabama Meat Goat & Sheep Producers 334-613-4221 • BRagland@alfains.com ASI Women 435-528-7570 • sherrischumann@utah.gov Arizona Wool Producers Association 520-560-4202 • caauza@peoplepc.com Arkansas State Sheep Council 870-853-7404 • wjcalloway@gmail.com California Wool Growers Association 916-444-8122 • info@woolgrowers.org Colorado Wool Growers Association 970-874-1433 • cwgawool@aol.com Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association 860-819-8339 • secretary@ctsheep.com Meat Sheep Alliance of Florida 352-502-2564 • ruthtaber@embarqmail.com Georgia Sheep & Wool Growers Association 706-340-1098 • georgiasheep@gmail.com Hawaii Sheep and Goat Association 808-775-8075 • alohadjam@yahoo.com Idaho Wool Growers Association 208-344-2271 • director@idahowoolgrowers.org Illinois Lamb & Wool Producers Inc. 573-205-9208 • amanda.limback@gmail.com Indiana Sheep Association 317-896-2213 • bobenosu@icloud.com Iowa Sheep Industry Association 641-625-4248 • info@iowasheep.com Kansas Sheep Association 620-393-5204 • kssheep@ruraltel.net Kentucky Sheep & Wool Producers Association 502-682-7780 • kyates@kysheepandgoat.org Maine Sheep Breeders Association 207-324-1582 • donna.flint@maine.edu Maryland Sheep Breeders Association 410-746-5768 • chestnutcreekfarm@gmail.com Massachusetts Federation of Sheep Associations 508-829-4556 • brmacphee@aol.com Michigan Sheep Producers Association 616-610-5628 • samaludl@gmail.com Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers Association 320-760-5727 • kinneylamb@gmail.com Missouri Sheep Producers Inc.

Brad Boner Wyoming President

Ben Lehfeldt Montana Vice President

Joe Pozzi California Secretary/Treasurer

573-578-0497 • christy576@gmail.com Montana Wool Growers Association 406-442-1330 • leah@mtsheep.org

Peter Orwick Colorado Executive Director

Wyoming Wool Growers Association 307-265-5250 • alison@wyowool.com

June 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 11

2023 ASI Photo Contest Now Accepting Entries

I t’s time to start sorting through those great photos you took the past few years and prepare to enter them in the 2023 ASI Photo Contest. Winning entries will be featured in the Octo ber issue of the Sheep Industry News . "Submissions in the ASI Photo Contest continue to be of the highest quality,” said Sheep Industry News Editor Kyle Partain. "In addition, they are a valuable resource for the association as they provide ASI with photos that show a variety of breeds, regions of the country and production systems for use in publications throughout the year.” Rules and prizes for the 2023 contest are the same as last year. Photographs entered in the contest will be judged on clarity, content, composition and appeal. More than $1,000 will be awarded, with awards of $125 going to the first-place photographer in each of the five categories listed below; $75 for the runner-up in each category; and a $50 prize for third place in each of the five categories. Entries must be received in the ASI office by 5 p.m. mountain time on Tuesday, Aug. 1, to be considered. Only the top three photographers in each category will be notified of their winnings. Photographers are advised to submit digital photographs in the largest file size possible. Also, judges and ASI staff encourage entrants to provide both horizontal and vertical photos. This will better assure these talented and creative photos can be shared in future issues of the Sheep Industry News , as well as in the 2024 ASI Calendar and other ASI publications. The five categories in this year’s contest are: 1. Shepherd/Shepherdess – Photographs of producers, shep herds or others working with sheep. 2. Scenic (East) – Photographs of sheep outdoors located east of the Mississippi River. Photos entered in this category cannot include people. 3. Scenic (West) – Photographs of sheep outdoors located west of the Mississippi River. Photos entered in this category cannot include people. 4. Working Dogs and Protection Animals – Photographs in this category should show herding dogs, livestock guardian dogs or any other livestock protection animal in their natural environ ments. Photos must also include sheep in some fashion as proof that these truly are working animals. 5. Open – Photographs with subject matter that does not fall into the four above-listed categories. Other contest rules: • ASI can use or reproduce all entries at the discretion of ASI. In addition, entries will not be returned.

• ASI is not required to notify photographers when photos are used in materials. • Photographs can be submitted via hard copy or electroni cally, but electronic submissions are preferred. • All entries must be at least 3 inches by 5 inches, color or black-and-white, high-resolution photos (larger sizes encour aged). • Entries must be submitted in the name of the person who took the photograph. • Entries are limited to two per category per person. • Only photographs that have been taken in the past six years can be entered. • Photographs submitted in previous years cannot be re entered. • The following needs to be included with each submission: title of photo; category (from the five listed above) into which it is being entered; photographer’s name; mailing address; phone number; email address; and approximate location/date of photo. • If there is a particular story that goes with the photo, please include that, as well, with the entry. Entries should be emailed to Partain at kyle@sheepusa.org with the subject line of ASI Photo Contest. Those mailing photos should send them to ASI, Attn: Photo Contest, 9785 Maroon Circle, Suite 360, Englewood, CO 80112.

12 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Are You Ready for the Changes to Over-the-Counter Antibiotics?

ERICA SANKO Director of Analytics & Production Programs O over-the-counter to prescription only. This is part of FDA’s effort to combat antimicrobial resistance by promoting the judicious use of medically important antimicrobials in animals. This means some products – such as injectable penicillin and oxytetracycline (LA-200) – will re quire a prescription from a licensed veterinarian. This does not mean you are required to purchase these products from a veterinarian, just that you need a prescription to purchase from your retail or online supplier. This guidance does not affect dewormers or vaccines.

this publication. A VCPR is a formal relationship that you have with a veterinarian who serves as your primary contact for all veterinary services and is familiar with you, your sheep and your operation. To continue using medically important antimicrobials, you will need to establish a VCPR with your veterinarian.

n June 11, FDA’s Guidance for Industry #263 will go into effect, which means the marketing status for certain medically important antimicrobial drugs will move from

Keeping track of which sheep have been treat ed with antibiotics will be important as you work with your veterinarian. Ask your veterinarian for a record form that you can use to keep track of the sheep that are treated with antibiotics. You might want to consider including vaccinations and dewormer treatments as this information can help you and your veterinarian make decisions to improve the health and wellbeing of your animals. To ensure you are ready for this change, contact your veterinarian to discuss how to move

forward. Scan the QR Code to find information on the ASI website including frequently asked questions, a list of which products will be impacted, resources on antibiotic stewardship and an option to search for a veterinarian in your area. We’re committed to you. The rancher, the family and the flock. We partner with you to protect and nurture the American lamb industry so that together we can provide consumers a quality lamb product.

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June 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 13

Several years removed from his role as the Region VIII representative to the ASI Executive Board, Joe Pozzi was elected earlier this year as secretary/treasurer for the association. A fourth-generation rancher, he’s taken the family operation in a handful of new directions that easily show the value of niche marketing for both lamb and coarse wool. Working with his daughter, Alexandra, Pozzi has positioned himself as a price giver – and not a price taker – in an effort to elimi nate the volatility that often makes the day-to-day work of sheep production so difficult.

MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS IMMIGRATED HERE from Italy and Ireland in the late 1800s. Both sides had small dair ies back in Italy and Ireland, so the family operated a small dairy in California until the early 1970s. We were at a point of transition where we needed to get bigger or do something else. On the ranch we also had some sheep. So, we transi tioned more to beef cows and the sheep business. I went to a local junior college and then to Chico State, which is a great school here in Northern California. Both schools really opened my eyes to the opportunities that were out there. I CAME BACK AND DECIDED TO EXPAND the sheep busi ness. I was running 1,000 ewes and 100 cows. Even at that, I needed a side job to justify my ranch operation. I remem ber one day, I sold a load of lambs – beautiful lambs – and the price I got still couldn’t pay for things. The market just wasn’t there for a small producer to make it on that. So, I started to question, how do I do this and make it work? Then one day, I was at a local wool growers meeting. A local individual came to the meeting wanting to buy wool for a bedding business. At the time (in the early 1990s), our wool was worth about 16 cents a pound. It’s only worth about 20 cents a pound now, so it hasn’t changed much in all those years. After the meeting, I went and met with the individual at their showroom. Their mattresses were selling for about $3,000 each and they were filled with wool. If I hadn’t been at that meeting, I might have missed that opportunity. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THOUSANDS of pounds of wool and asked me what I wanted for it. I said, how about 75 cents, they said it sounded great. At one point, I was buying wool from 40 to 50 producers in Northern Califor nia. We were doing over 200,000 pounds of greased wool a year. It brought back value to the growers, and myself, as we produced a beautiful product for the consumer. In 2015, the bedding companies we were selling to wanted to shift to certified organic wool, which is very difficult to do in the United States. So, instead of selling to other companies, we started our own called Sonoma Wool Company. We started here in California, but then expanded it to Mas sachusetts. It’s been great because we have ties to the wool industry here, and the East Coast where we have access to a lot of small mills. We opened our first retail store in Brew

ster, Mass. But we sell a lot of our products online. We’ve added value to the product and provide the consumer with the story behind that product, as well as how we raise our sheep. The Sonoma name is well known and since it’s where we raise our sheep, the name seemed to fit. With all niche markets, it is challenging and hands-on, but it gives me a chance to create a value and a fair price coming back to the producers. As a small producer, you always have to think a little outside the box. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY CAME MY WAY when someone was looking for grass-fed lamb about 17 years ago. I talked to them and that spawned a business opportunity. We’ve built it up to where we’re selling weekly loads of grass-fed lamb to various retail outlets throughout Northern Califor nia. Instead of loading the lambs on a truck once a year, we are processing lambs every week. As it’s grown, I’ve added other producers to the program from the region. They have different lambing dates, so we have fresh lamb all year long. This a big plus for the shelf space. Once you get it, you want to keep it. I’m also able to sit down with the retailers to discuss my cost and a price I would get for my lamb. We try to keep our prices steady for both the producer and retailer. The price stability helps everybody I THINK THERE ARE TREMENDOUS GROWTH OPPOR TUNITIES out there for all wools. You have to make those connections and have a story to tell about your products. Wool – whether it’s fine or coarse – is such a great product. Our tag line at Sonoma Wool is “Rediscover The Wonders of Wool.” We moved away from that during the synthetic revolution, but if you listen to their advertisements, they are mimicking everything wool does. It wicks away moisture, it breathes, it dries, it’s odor free. Wool does all of this by itself without any chemical manipulations. It’s been exciting for us to bring consumers back to the wool market. I WONDERED IF I SHOULD RUN FOR THIS POSITION or not. But I feel like the industry has been good to me, and it’s important to give back. Several people had asked me about doing this in the past and I decided if I was going to do it, I needed to do it now. I hope I can make a difference by pro viding some valuable input.

14 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Meet the Exec. Board Joe Pozzi Valley Ford, Calif.

June 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 15 June 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 15

Festival Celebrates 50 Years of Fiber in Maryland

HEATHER PEARCE ASI Wool Production Programs Manager S aturday morning at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival felt like a rock concert. It was abuzz with excitement and anticipation with fiber enthusiasts itching to get their hands on the best fleeces and yarn. Conducted May 5-7 at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Md., there were three lines of people – each stretching for almost a quarter of a mile – waiting at the gates. Once they opened, fes tival goers quickly made their way through the ticket lines and flooded the grounds in search of everything from fleeces to sheep to equipment to food.

tical issues, it sparked the idea of a market to sell fleeces. Thus started the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in 1973, founded by MSBA and directed by Festival Chair Janet Sorrels. The festival has always focused on creating a place where producers can sell their wool and where fiber artists can come to buy that wool. The festival really opened up the market beyond selling commercially. The economic impact has been huge when you think about the number of visitors and the amount of food, fiber, sheep and sheep supplies sold during the festival. The number of sheep in Maryland has remained fairly constant, but the wool pool has ceased in recent years as so many producers have moved to raising high-quality wool (or hair sheep). The festival continues to be the flagship event for MSBA and is put on by a dedicated committee led by Chairman Gwen Handler, General Manager Kris Thorne, MSBA President Jeff White and 65 volunteers. With humble beginnings working to connect producers and buyers, the festival is now among the biggest sheep festivals in the United States. FLEECE SHOW & SALE No matter when you walk into the Fleece Barn, the place is buzz ing with excitement. Here’s how it works. Friday is fleece check-in and judging day. The place is filled with clean, lustrous fleeces as producers and volunteers checking them in. Lee Langstaff runs it like a well-oiled machine, handling the 860 fleeces entered in the show and sale. Fleeces must be for sale – honoring the original intent of the festival – but producers can choose if they will be judged. Also keeping to tradition, only sheep fleeces are accepted. Nearly 500 fleeces were judged by Letty Kline, Geof Ruppert, Dr. Shawn Ramsey and Zane Bone. Most were in breed classes while 200 competed in the white fleece and natural colored fleece divisions – which can include crossbreds. There are even divisions for uncoated – although still fairly clean – fleeces and down breeds. “We are eager to draw in more of our meat sheep breeders, who have

It would be easy to attribute the excitement to the fact that 2023 marked the show’s 50th anniversary. But it wouldn’t be entirely ac curate, either. Regulars will tell you that it’s like this almost every year. With green grass and trees in full bloom, the fairgrounds welcomed huge crowds and provided warm, sunny weather in recognition of the golden anniversary. Special events to mark the occasion included a 50th anniversary museum that offered a look back at all of the past festivals. An opening ceremony took time to recognize many of the people who worked tire lessly to create the festival in the early years. They included Dahl Den ning, Charlote Dinsmore, Bob Dinsmore, David Greene, Dally Irvine, Nancy Greene and Ann Ruppert. FESTIVAL BEGINNINGS The Maryland Sheep Breeders Association has had a wool pool to gather and sell members’ wool for a long time. During one such wool pool, handspinners came to skim off a few of the top-quality fleeces before the rest were bagged and shipped. While this created some logis

16 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org