Wool Council’s Military Tour Cancelled
An especially busy fall hurricane season forced ASI to cancel the 2024 Wool Education Tour that would have taken military decisionmakers to several sites that play a key role in the American wool manufacturing supply chain. The tour was scheduled for earlier this week – falling just between the arrival of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the southeastern part of the United States.
“Some of the locations we planned to visit are close to the hardest-hit areas (from Hurricane Helene), and there is too much uncertainty about what conditions we might encounter with a group of 30 people traveling on a bus,” wrote ASI Director of Wool Marketing Rita Samuelson in cancelling the tour on Oct. 3. “Our primary concern is the safety of our travelers, as well as the well-being of those in North Carolina facing the devastating effects of the hurricane. We do not want to interfere with ongoing rescue efforts or risk potential travel disruptions for mill participants, both ground and air. We appreciate your understanding and support as we prioritize safety and consideration for those in the area during this difficult period. We will follow-up with military participants regarding possible future events.
The cancellation came after nearly a year of planning by ASI’s wool department and consultants. Tours such as this one play a vital role in introducing military leaders to American wool, and the possibilities it presents for clothing and protecting U.S. troops. A similar tour in the Southeast was previously conducted in the fall of 2017.
Organizers are already looking at options for conducting another tour for military personal from all services to educate them about American wool and the manufacturing supply chain.
Read more about the cancelled tour in the November issue of the Sheep Industry News.
ASI Accepting Officer Nominations
Nominating Committee Chair Susan Shultz reminds leaders and state associations that nominations for American Sheep Industry Association officer positions are due by Nov. 29. The current slate of officers intends to submit their names for reelection.
Interested producers should share a letter of interest with the ASI office by Nov. 29. The committee will then agree on a nomination slate of officers to be presented to the ASI Board of Directors at the ASI Annual Convention in January.
Contact ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick at 303-771-3500, ext. 103, or [email protected] for more information.
ALB Offers Two-for-One Rate for Grazing Workshop
The American Lamb Board extends an invite and flock special (two for the price of one) to the American Sheep Industry Association’s Young and Emerging Entrepreneurs group to attend the Fall Grazing Workshop in Pennsylvania.
ALB has been hosting grazing workshops that provide an overview of opportunities related to fire suppression, vineyard grazing and solar grazing. These workshops cover essential topics such as animal performance, contracts and business setup, equipping participants with the skills they need to thrive in grazing services.
The fall workshop is set for Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 in Shippensburg, Penn.
Click Here for more information.
Source: ALB
Australian Wool Market Continues to Rise
The Australian wool market recorded a strong overall upward movement in this series, with currency fluctuations only playing a partial role in the rises.
On the first selling day (Tuesday), only Melbourne and Fremantle were in operation. The individual Micron Price Guides for Merino fleece rose between 11 and 57 cents. Fremantle recorded the largest increases, as the West did not enjoy the gains on offer on the final day of the last series. The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator rose by 8 cents, but due to a sharp fall in the AUD, in USD terms it dropped by 15 U.S. cents. This 23-cent difference between the two was the largest difference between the two EMIs since March 2023, where the difference was 24 cents.
On the second day (Wednesday), all three centers were in operation and the market continued to rise unabated. By the end of the day, the Merino fleece MPGs had risen by between 10 and 88 cents with Sydney playing catch up and posting the largest gains. The EMI rose by 23 cents – the largest of the current season and the largest daily increase in the EMI since February 2023. The EMI also rose in USD terms, gaining the 15 cents it lost on the first day.
On the final day, only Sydney was in operation due to a Monday holiday in New South Wales. The 4,752 bales on offer was the smallest national daily offering of Australian wool since 2013. The market rose again, with the EMI adding a further 4 cents.
The EMI closed the week at 1,139 Australian cents. The 35-cent weekly rise was the largest since July 2023. The 96-cent weekly rise in the 18-micron MPG in the West was the largest individual MPG increase since the final sale of the 2023 calendar year (Dec. 14), where three-figure rises were recorded. The large rises have encouraged sellers to the market, pushing next week’s national offering up to 42,005 bales.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Table – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: AWEX
Awards Nominations Due by Nov. 29
It’s time once again to submit nominations for the American Sheep Industry Association’s annual awards, which will be presented during the ASI Annual Convention on Jan. 15-18, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
There are five awards open for nominations: The McClure Silver Ram Award, the Peter Orwick Camptender Award, the Distinguished Producer Award, the Industry Innovation Award and the Shepherd’s Voice Award.
Nominations must be submitted to ASI by Nov. 29, and past recipients of these awards are not eligible.
Click Here for more information.
ALB Hosts Lambassadors in Idaho
The American Lamb Board hosted a group of Lambassadors – a talented mix of chefs, influencers and recipe developers – at a unique educational retreat during the renowned Trailing of the Sheep Festival in Ketchum, Idaho, last week. The multi-day event was packed with enriching experiences, including interactive ranching discussions and thrilling culinary competitions. Attendees left the event inspired and connected to both the local culture and the lamb industry.
“Lambassadors help reach millions of consumers with information about American lamb, and events like this help those sharing our messages understand the industry on a deeper level,” said ALB Chair Jeff Ebert. “It’s a great way to connect and educate with influential partners sharing the American lamb story.”
The retreat began with a captivating Sheep Ranching Q&A session hosted by local Idaho ranchers. The Lambassadors gained valuable insights into sustainable ranching practices, heard personal stories from the ranchers, and got a behind-the-scenes look into sheep farming. It was an eye-opening experience highlighting the dedication and hard work of those involved in this essential industry.
Later, the group indulged in the For the Love of Lamb Dine Around, where local restaurants in downtown Ketchum showcased their best lamb-centric dishes. Attendees savored 11 different lamb bites, each crafted by the area’s top chefs, spotlighting the talent and creativity that make Idaho’s culinary scene so vibrant.
The following day, participants were treated to the spectacle of the Sheepdog Trials. They marveled as expertly trained dogs – alongside their handlers – demonstrated their impressive herding skills. The precision and teamwork on display were awe-inspiring. Following the trials, the group immersed themselves in local culture at the Folklife Fair, where vibrant traditional music, dancing and artisan crafts offered a rich glimpse into Idaho’s heritage.
That evening, the Sun Valley Culinary Institute hosted a Chopped-style culinary competition, where the Lambassadors tested their skills. Each participant received a mystery basket filled with unique ingredients to incorporate into dishes featuring ground and leg of lamb. The creative energy was palpable as the chefs raced against the clock, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. After a challenging round of judging, a winner was crowned, and everyone enjoyed the delectable creations over a group dinner.
The retreat concluded with the iconic Big Sheep Parade down Ketchum’s Main Street. Attendees watched in awe as more than 1,200 sheep made their annual migration to winter pastures, creating a truly unforgettable and heartwarming moment. This beloved tradition was the perfect finale to a weekend filled with cultural appreciation, culinary inspiration and a deepened connection to the people who bring lamb from pasture to plate.
Source: ALB
No on 309 Releases At the Table Ad
The No On 309 campaign to stop the slaughterhouse ban in Denver released its first ad, entitled, At the Table.
“This is Doris,” the ad begins. “Doris is one of 160 people who has a good-paying job at an employee-owned company – a slaughterhouse. But now, there’s an initiative on the Denver ballot to shut it down. A Colorado State University study says it would cost their jobs, and hundreds more. And it’d cost Denver millions, just to target one – and only one – Denver business. Closing one business doesn’t help animals, it just hurts people.”
Each person showcased in the campaign ad either works at the slaughterhouse being targeted for closure by the ban, is family of someone who works there, or is part of the restaurant industry that will be directly impacted by the closure of Denver’s only slaughterhouse. The ad also notes what Denver voters intuitively understand – that closing one facility would not help animals.
Doris has worked at the slaughterhouse for six years, starting as a product sorter. She is now an employee-owner and works in the Harvest department as a leader of the department. She also is a local resident of Globeville, Colo.
“This issue has been keeping me up at night, I’ll be honest,” she says.
Pro Animal Future is behind the initiative to ban the slaughterhouse where Doris works, and despite the “yes” side’s claims, there is no enforceable provision for assisting the workers who would be fired by the facility’s closing to actually be enforced. Backers claimed that firing more than a hundred employees is a move that will help the workers. Doris disagrees.
“I don’t need people coming in to help me. This job means everything to me and my family. This job is how I put food on the table. I am scared about what will happen if the ban passes. I have deep personal connections at this company that go beyond the job – we are like family here.”
The campaign has made an initial quarter million dollar placement on digital platforms.
Click Here for more information.
Source: Stop the Ban, Protect Jobs
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 Announces Actions on Fair & Competitive Markets
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced multiple steps to deliver on President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy to promote fair and competitive markets for American producers, while lowering food costs for consumers.
In a three-part announcement, Sec. Tom Vilsack first announced a multipart framework intended to evaluate transparency and improve researcher access to seed germplasms, through USDA leveraging its funding and research capacity and interagency partnerships.
Click Here for more information on that.
Next, USDA highlighted an interim report that assesses competitive conditions within the meal retail industry, which draws on previously submitted public comment from stakeholders – large and small – across varying sectors of the animal protein supply chain.
Click Here for a copy of the interim report.
Lastly, USDA announced plans to issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to seek public comment on cattle price discovery and gauging possible interventions to develop new benchmarks as Alternative Marketing Agreements base prices in the regional cattle markets and approaches to trading when using benchmarks. The public comment period for the ANPR will open for 60 days once posted in the Federal Register.
Click Here for a preview of the ANPR.
The American Sheep Industry Association is reading the reports for any potential impact on the sheep industry.