ASI Requests Imported Lamb Be Included in Tariff Plan
The American Sheep Industry Association will continue its requests to the Trump Administration and lawmakers to include Australian and New Zealand lamb in the food and agriculture tariff plans during its annual fly-in next week in Washington, D.C.
Fifty sheep industry leaders representing ASI and 16 of its state affiliate organizations will descend on the nation’s capital next week to meet with congressional and administration officials to promote the sheep industry request.
ASI President Ben Lehfeldt of Montana said the ASI ask for crucial support in addressing the surge in foreign lamb and including lamb imports in the agriculture/food tariff plan expected to be announced on April 2 is to ensure consumers have access to American lamb, as well as future sustainability of the American sheep and lamb industry.
Lehfeldt and ASI Legislative Action Council Co-Chair Larry Hopkins of Indiana were both on Capitol Hill in the past month to address the Senate and House ag committees on behalf of the American sheep industry. They pitched the difficult disadvantage American lamb producers find themselves in due to labor and input costs versus flat to depressed market returns. ASI seeks to have lamb meat included in the administration’s plans for import restrictions that are expected to be announced next month.
ASI continues to work with international trade legal firm Kelley Drye to gather support from domestic lamb meat companies to pursue a trade violation case – it’s third such investigation in recent years. In 2024, imported lamb and mutton accounted for 73 percent of the total lamb and mutton consumption in the United States, with 74 percent of that coming from Australia and 25 percent from New Zealand. Lamb imports set a record at 309.3 million pounds in 2024.
Click Here to view ASI’s briefs for next week’s Spring Trip.
“ASI is encouraged that the Trump Administration is pursuing tariff action on food and agriculture imports and the timing of our annual fly-in to Washington, D.C., appears perfectly timed to have face-to-face discussions with the nation’s agriculture and trade leaders,” concluded Lehfeldt.
Apply Now for the Sheep Heritage Foundation Scholarship
Applications are open for the American Sheep Industry Association’s annual Sheep Heritage Foundation Scholarship. The deadline to apply is May 31 and the recipient will be announced in June or July.
The $3,000 scholarship will be awarded to one graduate level (MS or Ph.D.) student who is attending school in the United States.
The scholarship was developed to drive advancement in the American sheep industry, through either wool or lamb research. Applicants must be a graduate student involved in sheep and/or wool research in such areas as animal science, agriculture economics or veterinary medicine with proof of graduate school acceptance. Applicants must also be a United States citizen, present two letters of reference and complete the application.
Click Here for more information and to apply.
In addition, the Sheep Heritage Foundation accepts donations throughout the year to provide funding for the scholarship. Memorial contributions in the name of loved ones who have passed away are a common way of supporting the foundation.
Click Here to learn more about donating.
Young Leaders Program Deadline Approaching
If you’re a sheep producer eager to expand your network, enhance your skills and impact the industry, the Global Sheep Forum’s Young Leaders Program should be your next step. This unique opportunity – presented by the American Lamb Board and the American Sheep Industry Association’s Young & Emerging Entrepreneurs Committee – is designed specifically for producers aged 25 to 40 who want to lead the way in shaping the future of sheep production.
Taking place during LambEx 2026 in Australia, this program will connect selected applicants with young leaders from around the world. Participants will gain insights into the latest technological advancements in the sheep industry and engage in discussions about crucial industry issues. As representatives of the United States, selected candidates will have the chance to showcase their leadership skills on a global platform.
Engagement doesn’t stop with LambEx. Participants selected for the Young Leaders Program will also take part in various educational programs across the United States leading up to the event, including the Lamb Summit in July 2025, ASI’s Annual Convention in January 2026 and the National Lamb Feeders Association Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School in June 2026. These experiences will equip young producers with essential knowledge and skills to succeed in the industry.
Don’t miss your chance to participate in this exciting experience. Applications are being accepted until April 15. The selection process includes interviews conducted through May 1, with the chosen participants announced on May 5. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you are strongly encouraged to apply and make your mark in the sheep industry.
Eligibility criteria include: be an existing active member of ASI and an ALB contributor; a sheep producer between the ages of 25 and 40; and have the ability to travel and make presentations.
“The Global Sheep Forum Young Leaders Program presents a fantastic opportunity for young sheep producers to enhance their skills and learn from experienced leaders worldwide,” said ALB Chair Jeff Ebert.
Click Here for more information.
Source: ALB
Australian Wool Market Continues Hot Streak
The Australian wool market continued to strengthen, recording another overall rise and marking the fourth selling series in a row where the market rose. The national quantity rose to 40,144 bales.
On the first day of selling, the benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator added 4 cents. This stretched the upward run of the EMI to nine consecutive selling days. This equaled the run of nine last seen in November 2016. On the second day, the market performed with mixed results, however, there were enough positives for the EMI to record a 10th consecutive rise – this time by another 4 cents. The 10-day run of daily rises equaled the run of 10 posted back in May 2016.
A pleasing aspect of the current market spike has been that it is largely demand driven, as opposed to the common trend over recent months where market movements have been heavily influenced by currency. The EMI also recorded rises across both selling days when viewed in USD terms, adding a total of 10 U.S. cents for the series. When viewed across the last 10 selling days – where the EMI has risen in AUD terms – the EMI has only fallen once in USD (on March 4), and even then, it was by the barest of margins (1 cent).
Across the last 10 selling days, the EMI has risen by 70 cents for an increase of 5.9 percent. When viewed in USD terms, the increase is the same as the EMI has added 47 U.S. cents across these selling days for a rise of 5.9 percent.
Unfortunately, the market closed with a negative tone. The Western region – selling last – recorded losses in nearly all published Micron Price Guides, with only the 21-micron MPG bucking this trend.
Next week, the national offering is of a similar size. There are currently 40,831 bales on offer nationally.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Chart – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: AWEX
Pennsylvania Sets Shearing School for April
Penn State Extension has scheduled a shearing school for April 24-26 in Scenery Hill, Penn. The workshop will start with a 45-minute webinar on April 24, followed by two days of in-person instruction and education.
“Join us for the Pennsylvania Sheep Shearing School, a blended workshop designed to help both beginners and experienced shearers build confidence and refine their skills,” reads the event webpage. “Gain hands-on experience and expert guidance as you learn professional shearing patterns, equipment setup, maintenance and repair, wool handling, and basic sheep care. The program begins with a virtual Zoom session on Thursday evening, followed by an in-person training on Friday. Participants can choose to attend an optional second in-person day on Saturday for advanced instruction – all for one cost.”
Students are encouraged to watch a series of YouTube videos – link provided after registration – to prepare for the webinar. Insights from the videos will also be applied during the in-person workshop.
The cost to attend is $100 per student, and the registration deadline is April 21.
Click Here for more information.
Source: Penn State Extension
Plan to Attend the Washington Meat Summit
The second Washington Meat Summit is scheduled for April 5 in Moses Lake, Wash., and will feature Oregon sheep producer Reed Anderson of Anderson Ranches and Kalapooia Grass Fed Processing.
Anderson will provide the keynote address, entitled Transparent Business Practices to Keep and Expand Your Customer Base. Additional highlights on the schedule include: a low-stress handling demonstration; consumer education based on customer expectations; peer-to-peer resource sharing, networking and problem solving.
The summit begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 4 p.m. Early registration is $35 by March 26 or $45 after that date.
Click Here for more information.
Source: Washington State Sheep Producers
Colorado Wolf Found in Wyoming
A wolf relocated to Colorado from British Columbia was killed last week by federal wildlife officials after a wolf predation involving five sheep was reported on private property in Wyoming.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists received a mortality alert for the male gray wolf 2505-BC on March 16. The agency confirmed the animal died in north-central Wyoming.
The wolf was part of the group of wolves translocated to Colorado from British Columbia and came from areas where there is no overlap between wolves and livestock. Wolves are known to travel long distances to find food or mates, including into other states, CPW said.
CPW did not say how the wolf died and instead deferred questions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A spokeswoman for that agency said Wildlife Services responded to a sheep predation on private lands in north central Wyoming. Evidence consistent with wolf depredation was observed at the site, including wolf tracks and bite marks consistent with known wolf predations.
Five adult sheep were killed by a wolf, the spokeswoman said. Late on March 15, Wildlife Services removed a wolf at the predation location, the agency said. They later determined it was wearing a collar from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The operation is part of the Colorado Wolf Restoration Management Plan developed after voters approved Proposition 114 in 2020. In accordance with the ballot measure, CPW said it will recover and maintain a viable, self-sustaining wolf population in Colorado while managing interactions between wolves, people and livestock.
Source: 9 News Denver
Legislative Update from Washington, D.C.
The American Sheep Industry Association’s lobbying firm – Cornerstone Government Affairs – offered an update this week on legislative issues in our nation’s capital.
USDA Updates Status of Probationary Employees
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Merit Systems Protection Board ordered a 45-day stay on the firings of probationary employees. The agency reported that by March 12, it would return fired probationary employees to pay status and provide them with back pay. This will impact nearly 6,000 USDA probationary employees who were fired as part of the administration’s cuts to the federal workforce.
Of this, it is worth noting that more than half of these terminations were employees under the U.S. Forest Service. With the MSPB’s decision, USDA also announced that it would develop a phased return-to-work plan.
EPA Announces WOTUS Revision
Late last week, Environment Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s plans to review the Waters of the United States definition within the Clean Water Act.
Leading up to the formal announcement, the EPA and Army Corp of Engineers released what they called a memorandum to the field to conform their WOTUS interpretation with the 2023 Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision.
Click Here for that decision.
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers will work in tandem to review and clarify the definition. Currently, for the EPA to establish a new definition, the 2023 Biden Administration WOTUS rule must be withdrawn. The Trump Administration, Republican lawmakers and industry stakeholders praised the EPA’s initiative, hoping that this will be one of many steps in the right direction to examine the regulatory overreach that has burdened the industry for many years.
Click Here for the full announcement.
Purina Offering Scholarships for 2025
Purina Animal Nutrition – along with the Land O’Lakes Foundation – has reopened its annual scholarship program designed to assist students with experience in livestock production and animal stewardship in pursuing their passions and furthering their education.
Undergraduate students and current high school seniors who have experience raising and caring for small or large livestock, equine and/or poultry are eligible to apply for a $5,000 scholarship. Four students will be awarded based on applications that illustrate the impact animal agriculture has had on their lives along with details on academic achievements, leadership skills, community involvement and a clear vision for their future.
Scholarship applications will be accepted through April 17, and awardees will be notified in June. Funds will be distributed for the Fall 2025 semester at their current or anticipated educational institution. The scholarship is open to all high school seniors who plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic semester/term and undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.
Click Here to learn more.
Source: Purina Animal Nutrition