Sheep Industry News March 2023

ASI Awards Shearing Grants T he American Sheep Industry Association announced this week that eight shearers and two mentors will receive funds through the association’s shearer grant program. Grant re cipients were chosen by members of a select committee from ASI’s Wool Council. The program – first introduced in 2022 – will provide $1,500 to each developing shearer to help cover the cost of equipment and other expenses as they work toward improving their shearing skills. Shearers will receive $500 at the beginning of the program and work with a mentor to gain confidence and improve shearing qual ity and speed. At the completion of the program, the shearers will receive $1,000. Shearing mentors will earn $1,500 to help cover the costs accumulated while mentoring students.

Shearers for the program shear in the East, Midwest, Moun tain States and the West. Students selected for the 2023 program include: • James Powers of New York (pictured at left). • Mark Burenheide of Nebraska.

• Todd Dixon of Montana. • Tirzah Gunther of Ohio. • Leslie Sullivan of Vermont. • Erik House of Arizona.

• Dakota Wilson of Montana. • Leeland Prock of Oregon. Mentors accepted into the program include Mary Lake of Ver mont and Mick Hofmann of Arizona. Loans Available Through NLPA NATIONAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION T he National Livestock Producers Association Sheep & Goat Innovation Fund Committee took action at its recent meet ing to leave its interest rates available to projects to improve • Create opportunities for adding value to sheep products. • Grow the sheep and goat industries in the United States. According to Miller – a Texas sheep producer – the fund is being

used to benefit all sectors of the sheep and goat industries. “Currently loans have been made in many areas, including genetic development, sheep and goat dairies, lamb and goat meat processing, and fiber processing,” Miller said. “The sheep and goat industries are in need of creative ideas that will add value to sheep and goats and the products they provide. The fund encourages industry members to evaluate the immediate needs in their area, gather support from others who recognize those needs, and work together to find the most effective solutions to local concerns.” The purpose of the fund has been to assist in financing projects beyond the farm gate; however, recently the fund was given the ability to make term loans to producers for the purpose of flock and herd expansion. “We are able to make simple, five-year term loans for breeding animals with a fixed interest rate,” said Miller. “Our committee will consider any worthwhile project that will benefit our industry.” For more information or an application please contact the NLPA Sheep & Goat Innovation Fund at 800-237-7193. The application is also available at SheepandGoatFund.com.

the sheep and goat industries unchanged. “We are in place to assist the U.S. sheep and goat industries,” said Pierce Miller, chairman of the committee. “With runaway interest rates recently, we wanted to show our commitment to our industry and those needing loan assistance by not raising our rates.” The fund is the result of a joint effort of the American Sheep Industry Association and the National Livestock Producers As sociation. “We are working to make loans to producers, processors and manufacturers to help to stabilize and build the industry,” Miller said. “The fund has already helped the industry by establishing loans that have reasonable risk but may otherwise not be consid ered by most banks.” The goals of the fund are to: • Make capital available for enhancing business methods and services. • Improve marketing efficiency and product quality. • Promote coordination and cooperation within the industry.

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