ASI Supports Tariffs on Imported Lamb
The American Sheep Industry Association applauds the implementation of a 10-percent tariff on imports from Australia and New Zealand, as announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday during his Make America Wealthy Again press conference in the White House Rose Garden.
ASI offered strong support for the plan in March during the association’s annual fly-in to Washington, D.C., with 50 sheep producer leaders meeting with federal trade officials and a hundred U.S congressional offices. A top message of the sheep industry was to ensure imported lamb meat was included. In 2024, 309.3 million pounds of lamb were imported – 99 percent of which came from Australia and New Zealand – setting a record high and representing a nearly 30-percent surge in pounds of imported meat. Both foreign importers trade at nearly a 40-percent discount to the U.S. dollar, allowing them to undercut American lamb producers.
“Ten percent is a good first step and we welcome the opportunity the president has provided to gauge if that level of ad valorem tariff is sufficient to curb the surge of frozen lamb unloading at American ports,” said ASI President Ben Lehfeldt of Montana. “Our main competitors flooded the U.S. market by an additional 30 percent in 2024. Predatory imports must be countered with every tool in the toolbox. ASI contacted all of the American lamb meat companies throughout March asking for business data to evaluate filing a formal trade case. We plan to continue that path while monitoring the trade reaction to President Trump’s reciprocal tariff implementation.”
The disadvantage American sheep producers find themselves in while competing against foreign products imported into the United States is exactly the type of problem President Trump was looking to solve on what he referred to as Liberation Day. He addressed how foreign nations have continually taken advantage of the United States and implemented the tariffs to deliver prosperity to American workers and industries by leveling the playing field.
Scrapie Forum Set for Wednesday
The American Sheep Industry Association is hosting a scrapie forum at the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s Annual Conference on Wednesday in Kansas City, Mo. The forum is designed to foster discussion among industry stakeholders about what being scrapie free will mean from a business and regulatory perspective.
Topics of discussion during this half-day meeting will include: understanding the transition from an active eradication program to disease surveillance; changes to infrastructure; and industry benefits of being scrapie free.
The forum is available to producers both in-person and online.
Click Here for more information.
Podcast Talks Mineral Supplementation
The most recent American Sheep Industry Association Research Update podcast visits with Robert Van Saun, DVM, of Penn State University on the topic of mineral supplementation.
When producers think about the nutritional needs of their flocks, what often comes to mind is forage, hay, grain and water. Minerals are often overlooked or even misunderstood by those who have traditionally provided them for their flocks.
“Nutrition is so important in maintaining health and preventing animals from getting sick,” said Van Saun, who admitted nutrition wasn’t the focus of his veterinarian training. “Minerals play a strategic role in many biological functions, not only structural, but in maintaining metabolic pathways.”
Click Here to listen to the podcast.
MSU Plans Sheep Nutrition Series
Michigan State University will be hosting a six-part webinar series called Optimizing Sheep Nutrition: A Virtual Management Series. It will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. eastern time from May 6 through June 10.
The series will focus on nutritional management of the flock. The instructors will bring a wealth of knowledge gained from years of research and practical experience working with producers on the nutritional management of sheep. This program will be of interest to both beginning and experienced producers and will discuss feeding systems and management approaches for both small flocks and large-scale commercial farms. Participants will receive access to all seminar recordings, a ration balancing program, and will be mailed a compendium of articles on the nutritional management of sheep as supplemental program material.
Sessions will be recorded, and a link to the recording will be sent approximately two days after each session. You do not need to be present at the live session, but viewing live allows you to ask questions.
Registration closes on May 4, and the cost to attend is $30 per household.
Click Here for more information.
Source: MSU
Australian Wool Market Rebounds
The Australian wool market recorded an overall increase in this series, bouncing back from the falls recorded the previous week.
On the first selling day, the market opened cautiously. By day’s end in the Eastern markets, the Merino fleece Micron Price Guides movements ranged between plus 4 and minus 17 cents. The positive movements in the other sectors were large enough that the benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator finished the day unchanged. The day was heavily influenced by currency. Due to a weakening of the Australian dollar, when viewed in U.S. dollar terms, the market retracted. The EMI dropped by 8 U.S. cents.
The Western region – selling last in the day – had a noticeable increase in buyer sentiment, which resulted in spirited bidding and price rises as a result. The Merino fleece MPGs in the West rose by between 10 and 15 cents for the day, setting up a positive tone for the following day’s opening.
This buyer positivity carried into the second day and the prices on offer for Merino fleece types were generally on the rise. The MPG movements across the country ranged between minus 12 and plus 25 cents. It was again the West selling last that recorded the largest prices increases. The increases were so large that the MPGs for 19 to 20 micron closed higher than the South. The EMI closed the day and the week 4 cents higher at 1,249 Australian cents.
The EMI has now fallen only once in the last 14 selling days. In an almost mirror image of the previous day, a strengthening of the AUD meant that when viewed in USD terms, the rise was larger. The EMI added 9 U.S. cents for the day, closing the week 1 cent higher at 787 U.S. cents.
Next week there are currently 35,699 bales on offer in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Chart – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: AWEX
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.
Trump Announces Reciprocal Tariffs
During a Make America Wealthy Again press conference on Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing widespread reciprocal tariffs around the world.
During what has been referred to as Liberation Day by the administration, Trump criticized foreign nations for repeatedly taking advantage of the United States and messaged on delivering prosperity to American workers and industries through leveling the trade playing field. He declared a national economic emergency over U.S. trade deficits, giving him the legal authority to regulate imports.
Separate from the executive order on reciprocal tariffs, Trump also announced the administration would implement a 25-percent tariff on all foreign-made automobiles. Taking effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. eastern time on Saturday, the United States will impose a 10-percent baseline tariff on imports from all countries. Additionally, Trump has imposed individualized reciprocal tariffs at higher rates on approximately 60 countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits.
In particular interest to American sheep producers, the administration announced plans to implement 10-percent tariffs on imports from New Zealand and Australia. Pursuant to White House guidance, it is assumed that the difference between the individualized rate and the standard 10-percent rate will separately go into effect on Wednesday. Currently, the administration has expressed that these tariffs will remain in place until such a time that Trump deems the threat posed by the current trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved or mitigated.
Black Vulture Bill Reintroduced
Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.), a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, eighth generation farmer and former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture, reintroduced H.R. 2462 – the Black Vulture Relief Act. The bipartisan legislation is being co-led by Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), who serves on the Committee on Natural Resources.
The legislation will allow livestock producers and their employees to take black vultures without a permit if they believe the vulture will cause death or injury to their livestock. It is currently illegal to take black vultures without a sub-permit from the authorizing state agency, encasing the issue in bureaucratic red tape and limiting producers’ ability to combat these predators.
“The American Sheep Industry Association encourages support for this legislation as vultures are a growing predator of lambs in America, and farmers and ranchers have few options today to address these losses,” said Steve Clements of South Dakota, who serves as vice chair of ASI’s Resource Management Council and Predator Management Committee. “Predator losses of sheep and the associated management costs are the second-largest expense of many sheep operations in America.”
Click Here to read the full story.
Source: Rep. Rose
Direct Payments ‘Months Away’
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Fox News on Thursday the Trump administration is months away from making a decision about whether to make payments to farmers to offset any impact from tariffs.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced sweeping tariffs that were mostly criticized by farm and food groups for their potential to shrink markets for farmers and raise prices for consumers.
Rollins has said the administration would consider making payments to farmers in the case of any economic hit from tariffs.
“We are months, literally months away, from understanding if that’s going to be necessary,” Rollins said.
Click Here to read the full story.
Source: Reuters
Lamb Jam Kicks off in Atlanta
Atlanta knows how to Jam. Lamb Jam that is. The 2025 Lamb Jam made its first stop in the Big Peach on March 26, offering lamb and libations in celebration of family-operated farms and ranches raising sheep in the United States. From now through September, Lamb Jam will visit seven cities across the country, promoting American lamb with live tasting events in each market.
Eight chefs vied for 2025 Atlanta Lamb Jam honors in the chef competition, offering eight delicious American lamb creations:
- Demetrius Brown at Bread & Butterfly with Tasso.
- Gustavo Hernandez at eclipse di luna with American Lamb Sliders.
- Cam Floyd at Superica with Smoked + Braised Lamb Corn Cakes.
- Milak Rhasaan at CHE BUTTER JONEZ with The Morocco Mole.
- Brandon Chavannes at Ecco with Lamb Carpaccio.
- Darragh Dudley at Ela with Lamb Belly.
- Tony Dubose at Bold Monk Brewing Co. with Lamb Burger Slider.
- Jay Felton at Miller Union with Lamb Rillette.
Diners sampled each chef’s lamb bites at The Trolly Barn during the live Lamb Jam Happy Hour Tour event, along with beverage pairings, games and exclusive American lamb swag.
Lamb Jam attendees voted on their favorite lamb bite, proclaiming Cam Floyd of Superica as the winner. His Smoked + Braised Lamb Corn Cakes featured Tomato Consommé’, Chihuahua Pupusas, Salsa Macha, Tomato and Cilantro. The TexMex eatery Superica is located in Dunwoody, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. Local lamb producers Tucker and Emily West of Liberty Farms Livestock provided the lamb for Chef Cam’s winning dish. He will now compete with future Lamb Jam winners at the end of the season in the Lamb Jam Finale.
The live Lamb Jam tour will hit the home of Texas BBQ on April 16, with tasting and drinks at Assembly Hall in Austin.
Chefs from Foreign & Domestic, KG BBQ, El Naranjo, Holiday, Olamaie, Gina’s, Micklethwait, and el Alma will compete for Austin’s Lamb Jam title.
Lamb Jam will then travel on to Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, Boston and Denver from now through September. Tickets for the live Lamb Jam Happy Hour Tour events are available online at americanlamb.com/lamb-jam.
Lamb Jam supports World Central Kitchen with a portion of proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales going directly to the organization, helping to provide meals to those in need, and responding to humanitarian, climate and community crises.
Source: ALB
Video of the Week
Faribault Woolen Mill was featured on Fox 9 in Minneapolis-St. Paul this week. Some say the mill manufactures magic, turning wool into its signature blankets and other accessories meant to stand the test of time.
Click Here to watch the video.