Sheep Industry News March 2024

President’s Notes BRAD BONER ASI PRESIDENT

ASI Heads to Washigton, D.C. S heep producers from across the United States are headed to Washington, D.C., this month for ASI’s Spring Trip. This is an annual trip that provides a key opportunity for the sheep industry to visit with federal partners and allows our indus try to meet with Congressional leaders. The conversations during the week of March 11 will center on a number of issues, varying from federal appropriations to the work of Wildlife Services to the new Farm Bill. In addition to the ASI Executive Board and Legislative Council, we gener ally have volunteer leaders from a dozen state associations that meet with their delegations on national or state priorities. As a regular on this trip in recent years, I can promise you the folks we’ll meet with in Washington, D.C., want to hear our concerns. They want to look for ways to support farmers and ranchers, but sometimes they need a little guidance on the best ways to do just that. Meetings with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and several of its agencies – including the Agricultural Marketing Ser vice, Risk Management Agency and Wildlife Services – are already on the agenda. The wool programs of ASI operate under USDA, as do the conservation, disaster and marketing support pro grams.

As of this writing, we’re still looking into sessions with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, as well as a possible conversation with the Environmental Protection Agency concerning its recent livestock processing effluent rule. The morning of Tuesday, March 12, will be filled with agency meetings. Visits with producers’ Congressional delegations typically follow on Tuesday afternoon and all day on Wednesday. Producers are provided with a packet of information they can share with the folks on Capital Hill. These visits are important every year, as there are always issues we could use assistance with through the legislative process. With the Farm Bill still under negotiation, it’s especially important to present our needs to Congressional leaders this year. We heard at the ASI An nual Convention in January that leaders in Washington are optimistic about passing a new Farm Bill this year after simply extending the previous Farm Bill for a year at the end of 2023.

Let’s hope that’s the case. Supporting our lamb checkoff on Capitol Hill and supporting tax reform – such as the estate tax – are also on our list. We increasingly have meetings on the need for predator management, including bird depredation. We’ll wrap up a day of hill visits with a lamb reception at the offices of our lobbying firm – Cornerstone Government Af fairs – on Wednesday evening. And once again, this will provide a time for producers to share their needs and concerns with agency and Congressional staff. The ASI Executive Board will head to Washington, D.C., a bit early to conduct its first meeting of 2024 on Monday, March 11. At that meeting, we’ll appoint members to each of ASI’s councils and committees. Our 44 state affiliates have been submit ting names for consideration since the conclusion of the ASI Annual Convention. I’m thankful for those who are willing to devote time during the year to serving in this important role. Within our industry, leaders bring a diverse group of skills and interests, and it’s the Executive Board’s job to appoint them to leadership positions where they can put those talents to use. Until next time, keep it on the sunny side.

4 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org