ASI Accepting Awards Nominations
It’s time once again to submit nominations for ASI awards, which will be presented during the ASI Annual Convention on Jan. 15-18, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The deadline for all award nominations is Nov. 29.
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.
The McClure Silver Ram Award is dedicated to volunteer commitment and service and is presented to a sheep producer who has made substantial contributions to the sheep industry and its organizations in his/her state, region or nation.
The Peter Orwick Camptender Award recognizes industry contributions from a professional in a position or field related to sheep production. Nominees should show a strong commitment and a significant contribution to the sheep industry, its organizations and its producers above and beyond what is called for in his/her professional capacity.
The Distinguished Producer Award was launched in 2014 to recognize the 150th anniversary of the national organization – the oldest livestock association in the country. This award is a way to recognize an individual who has had a significant long-term impact on the industry, including involvement with the National Wool Growers Association or American Sheep Producers Council.
The Industry Innovation Award recognizes the accomplishments of an individual or organization that improves the American sheep industry in a game-changing way, regardless of whether its impact is felt at the regional or national level.
The Shepherd’s Voice Award for Media recognizes outstanding coverage of the sheep industry by either print or broadcast outlets. The award excludes all publications and affiliates related solely to the sheep industry, allowing for recognition of outlets with general coverage of sheep industry issues.
Nominations must be submitted to ASI by Nov. 29, and past recipients of these awards are not eligible.
Click Here for more information.
Australian Wool Market Records Small Drop
The Australian wool market had an up-and-down series this week, recording an overall negative result by the slimmest of margins. The national quantity was again small for this time of year, with just 29,323 bales available to the trade.
On the first day of selling, the movements in the individual Micron Price Guides for Merino fleece were varied, ranging from minus 10 to plus 37 cents. The skirting market was generally fully firm, with some selected specialty lots recording increases. The crossbred sector recorded small gains, and the oddment market was generally unchanged. The result of these movements was a 4-cent rise in the benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator.
Due to a strengthening of the Australian dollar – the AUD added nearly a full cent compared to the U.S. dollar since the close of last week’s sales – when viewed in USD terms the overall increase was larger. The EMI gained 13 U.S. cents for the day. This 13-cent rise was the largest USD daily rise in the EMI since April.
On the second day of selling, only Sydney and Melbourne were in operation and the market generally retracted. The largest falls were in Merino fleece types, with the MPG movements ranging from plus 3 to minus 30 cents. There were minimal movements in the skirting and carding markets. The crossbreds recorded further positive results, preventing the EMI from a larger fall than the 5-cent drop recorded.
The EMI closed the week 1 cent lower at 1,098 Australian cents. With minimal currency movement before the final day, the EMI dropped by just 1 U.S. cent for the second day. The EMI finished the series 12 U.S. cents higher, closing at 743 U.S. cents – a 1.6-percent increase.
Next week’s offering is expected to increase. There are currently 34,378 bales on offer in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Table – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: AWEX
ALB Announces Fall Targeted Grazing Workshop
The rapid expansion of utility-scale solar farms and the need for effective vegetation management have created a growing demand for sheep grazing as a natural solution. Sheep grazing is increasingly being used in solar farms, wildfire-prone areas and vineyards. By eliminating dry vegetation that could fuel wildfires and helping control weeds without herbicides, grazing also supports environmental sustainability.
These paid grazing contracts offer a significant growth opportunity for the American sheep industry. Expanding flocks to meet this demand could increase the supply of American lamb, make it more price competitive, and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through both renewable energy and biological vegetation management. This trend benefits both established and emerging sheep producers by boosting profitability and encouraging flock expansion.
The American Lamb Board is prioritizing sustainability and growth within the American sheep industry. According to ALB Chair Jeff Ebert, the board is committed to supporting both new and experienced shepherds with the necessary education and resources to succeed in contract grazing.
To that end, ALB is hosting grazing workshops that provide an overview of opportunities related to fire suppression, vineyard grazing and solar grazing. These workshops will cover essential topics such as animal performance, contracts, and business setup to equip participants with the skills they need to thrive in grazing services.
Fall Workshop Details:
- Location: Shippensburg, Penn.
- Dates: Oct. 30 – Nov. 1.
- Registration Fee: $200.
- Contact for Information: Camren Maierle at [email protected].
- Seats Available: Limited to 50 producers.
The workshop will provide valuable training to help ensure participants can capitalize on grazing contract opportunities and grow their operations profitably.
Source: ALB
National Grazing Lands Conference Set for Dec. 4-6
The National Grazing Lands Coalition will host the ninth National Grazing Lands Conference on Dec. 4-6 in Tucson, Ariz. The triennial event serves as a gathering place for diverse producers and experts in grazing management.
“More than ever, caring for our natural resources and efficiently producing nutritious food is essential,” said NatGLC Executive Director Ashley McDonald. “The National Grazing Lands Conference brings together ranchers and grazing land managers from across the country to share innovative ideas, demonstrate best practices and build connections for future collaboration.”
The 2024 conference theme is Expanding Grazing Horizons, which was selected to honor the work that has been done while encouraging progress to further care for and sustain grazing lands. The three-day event features education from fellow producers, industry experts and academia related to business continuity and finance; innovation; land health; marketing; best practices; and policy. It also serves as forum for professional networking, business development and socialization among other grazing managers.
American Sheep Industry Association Director of Analytics and Production Programs Erica Sanko is scheduled to present at the conference, along with several ASI members.
Click Here to register by Oct. 15 and for more information on the conference.
Source: NGLC
Another Maine Textile Operation is Closing
One of Maine’s few remaining woolen yarn operations is going out of business.
Springvale’s Jagger Spun yarn made the announcement earlier this month in a letter to customers, citing rising labor and materials costs as the reason. Jagger also said its mill building and warehouse had already been sold.
“Five years ago, we had four different dye houses: we now have one dye house and dyeing costs have tripled,” the letter said. “With the cost of fiber and labor also continuing to rise, it has become increasingly difficult to remain profitable.”
The letter also stated the company would not be producing or dyeing any further lots, but would continue selling current inventory until all the yarn was gone, likely by the end of the year.
Click Here to read the full story.
Source: Bangor Daily News
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 Investment in Meat Processing Facilities
On Thursday, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA was awarding more than $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors across 12 states to help increase processing capacity, spark competition to expand market opportunities for U.S. farmers and create jobs in rural areas.
This investment marks the final installment in the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, which was first launched in 2022 under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. This funding will go toward helping build new processing plants, create hundreds of jobs, give local producers and entrepreneurs better business opportunities, and give consumers more options at the grocery store. Of the awarded grant recipients, Sustainable Meats in Idaho, Fisher Packing Company in Indiana, and Mark’s Custom Meats in Pennsylvania all outline intent to expand lamb purchasing and processing within their own facilities in their program descriptions.
Click Here for a complete list of MPPEP grant awardees.
ASI Signs onto Congressional Letter to EPA
This week, Reps. Nick Langworthy (N.Y.) and Jim Costa (Calif.) sent a bipartisan letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan requesting EPA revise its recent ranking of waste management technologies (Wasted Food Scale) to re-include rendering and acknowledge the important role rendering plays in the recycling of agricultural and commercial organic wastes in the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and the Wasted Food Scale.
The letter further expresses implementation of the strategy and Wasted Food Scale without rendering could create significant issues for agricultural producers and industries relying on rendered ingredients, hindering ongoing and effective waste reduction efforts. The bipartisan letter was widely supported by the hill and industry alike, featuring signatures from 27 member cosigners and 32 trade associations and organizations, of which the American Sheep Industry Association was a listed signatory.