Sheep Industry News June 2024

Organizers have admitted a successful ban in Denver could lead to similar efforts in cities throughout the country – which would affect lamb, beef, pork and poultry processors nationwide. ASI’s Guard Dog Fund has committed one of the largest con tributions to date to the campaign to defeat the ban. An impor tant point is that the meat and livestock industry’s first question is, “What is the commitment is of the lamb industry?” So this early and significant donation is critical to the $1.5 million needed to fight the proposed initiative. Producers can learn more at StopTheBanProtectJobs.com. The Guard Dog Fund is the sole source of funds in the legal in tervention to secure delisting of wolves through the Endangered Species Act across most the United States. “We are months down the road already with one of the top law firms to secure delisting of wolves from the ESA. The other side is continually suing federal officials, and as livestock producers we must be active,” said ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick. “This is such a broad issue that one or a handful of state sheep and cattle organizations would struggle to fund, but with the Guard Dog program, ASI can take state requests to a national level to sponsor alongside our livestock counterparts.” At the May meeting of the ASI Executive Board, requests were analyzed to tackle the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management Conservation and Landscape Health Rule and prohibition of coyote traps and snares for 11 months of the year in grizzly bear habitat. The board agreed to tap the Guard Dog Fund for both legal actions to the commitment of $47,500. Both legal issues will impact multiple states and an outsized share of lamb and wool production if not successfully challenged. In both cases, the sheep industry is partnering with multiple livestock organizations and/or livestock and energy development groups to fight the battle as is prudent. The point is, we need to carry our share and right now that share is funded by 140 opera tions. The Guard Dog Fund has spent $129,178 this fiscal year and the commitment has grown to nearly $200,000. Income from contributors is $75,350, so the goal of this solicitation is clear. The Guard Dog Fund also contributed significantly to labor fights in California and Nevada in recent years. Wage hikes in those states have shown a tendency to affect sheepherder wages in other states, as well as through the federal H-2A program. At the request of several state sheep associations, ASI spent more than $110,000 the past four years investigating trade viola tions by lamb importers. ASI has a law firm monitoring trade conditions for another investigation. SHEEP HERITAGE FOUNDATION In addition, there’s always room for additional support to ASI’s Sheep Heritage Foundation. The foundation plays a crucial role in providing financial sup port to students pursuing advanced degrees in animal and meat

sciences as they pertain to the sheep industry. Winners of the annual scholarship have gone on to work in key roles with university extension as well as with the U.S. Depart ment of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. In these roles, they provide daily educational and research support to sheep producers from coast to coast. Memorial contributions – in the name of loved ones who have passed away – is one way that many choose to support the Sheep Heritage Foundation. It’s only fitting that the industry’s future pioneers rise up through the contributions of its past leaders. CALL FOR SUPPORT The Heritage Foundation is a tax-deductible contribution to a charitable entity and the Guard Dog Fund is a business expense (not used to lobby or candidate contributions). ASI leaders urge you to use the enclosed envelope to support the Guard Dog Fund and the Sheep Heritage Foundation. Or you scan the QR code on page 8 to donate online through the ASI website. “We thank the contributing members of the Guard Dog Fund for the opportunity to fight for this industry and we believe the effort is compelling for all of us that receive this membership magazine to join the program,” said Boner. “We believe it’s an investment that will payoff for the American flock as a whole.”

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June 2024 • Sheep Industry News • 9