Sheep Industry News June 2024

President’s Notes BRAD BONER ASI PRESIDENT

Industry Faces Many Battles T he Biden Administration and those who like to think of themselves as “animal rights” activists have been busy in the last several months. From the new Conservation and Landscape Health Rule to removing the M-44 from the Wildlife Services toolbox to this fall’s referendum to ban all harvesting of animals and fur sales in the city of Denver, these efforts have the potential to significantly impact our industry. This doubling/tripling down at the end of this administration will negatively affect every sheep producer. The Conservation and Landscape Health Rule allows for federal land permits/leases to be issued for conservation alone, thus placing conservation on a level playing field with all other multiple uses – including grazing – along with a huge expansion of the Areas of Critical Environmental Concern acreage. One-third of our nation’s ewe flock spends part of their production year on public lands. This one is particularly egregious for the American sheep industry and will undoubtedly serve as the conduit to remove all grazing on federal lands. Conservation is not a “use,” it is an outcome of good management. This rule is proof positive that the Biden Administration is hell bent on advancing its agenda with little to no concern for the true health of this country’s grazing lands. Control is the only thing that matters to them. ASI is carefully considering joining together with other multiple use organizations to fight this rule in court. The city of Denver has two referendums on this fall’s ballot that affect animal agriculture. One would ban slaughterhouses within the city limits. This is another extreme example of activism run amok. ASI is involved with multiple partners from within and outside our industry in an all-out effort to soundly defeat the slaughterhouse referendum. The initiative to ban slaughterhouses would force the closure of Superior Farms’ lamb processing plant in the city. It is the only business directly affected by the referendum. At the request of the Colorado Wool Growers Association and other state agricultural groups, Colorado State University developed a report on possible impacts of the plant closure. We will have more to share on that report in the near future. This brings me to the meat of this column. The ASI Guard Dog Fund is our only source of funds to fight these very im portant battles. Through the years, this fund has successfully funded court battles and won multiple efforts on behalf of our industry. It is only able to accomplish this through the graciousness of approximately 140 families who have annually donated their hard-earned money to the Guard Dog Fund. Charter members donate $750 or more, while supporting members contrib ute $250 to $749. It is your leadership’s belief that we need to reach a much higher percentage of our members who are willing to contribute to this very important effort. If you are not familiar with the Guard Dog Fund, please turn to the story on pages 8-9 and take a look at the battles the Guard Dog Fund is helping to fight. You can also find information on the ASI website at SheepUSA.org/ about-donate. Members of the ASI Executive Board and association staff can also share the valuable role these funds play in protecting our industry. I would encourage you to donate as you are able. Every penny goes to help us successfully defend this great industry from the onslaught of uninformed detractors whose only goal is seeing that we go away. Until next time, keep it on the sunny side.

4 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org