ASI Offers Online Wool Mill Directory

Looking for a small wool mill near you? The American Sheep Industry Association has recently completed an update of the Small and Midsize Mills Directory on its website.

The directory provides information for anyone looking for processing services from scouring to weaving to dying and even for processing wool into fertilizer pellets.

Services and products included in the directory include:

• Scouring.
• Carding.
• Pindrafting/Grilling.
• Combing.
• Yarn Spinning.
• Dyeing.
• Knitting.
• Weaving.
• Felting.
• Fertilizer Pelletizing.

“We hope that both producers and fiber enthusiasts will find the directory to be a valuable resource as they look for opportunities to sell or buy wool in the future,” said ASI Wool Marketing Director Rita Samuelson. “These small and midsize mills play a vital role in the American sheep industry while working on a mostly local and regional level.”

Click Here if you’re a mill owner or operator and you’d like to have your operation added to the list.

 

Wool Market Down Despite Strong Finish

The Australian wool market fell again in this week – albeit a small reduction – and there were strong positive movements experienced late in the series.

The market opened weakly and by the end of the first day Merino fleece types had suffered further falls. The individual Micron Price Guides across the country dropped by between 4 and 59 cents as 19.5 micron in the North was the only MPG to not fall. The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator lost 13 cents for the day. Only a buoyant crossbred market – where gains in the MPGs of up 24 cents were recorded – prevented a larger fall. The EMI fell to 1,118 Australian cents, its lowest point since October 2020, when it was one cent lower.

The second selling day, buyer sentiment dramatically improved and the market in turn started to rise. In the East, the MPGs for 17 micron and coarser closed between 2 and 30 cents higher. The crossbreds again had a positive day helping to push the EMI up by 9 cents. The EMI closed the week at 1,127 Australian cents – 4 cents lower than last week’s close. As mentioned earlier, the market finished the series in a strong fashion.

The Western region – selling last – attracted spirited bidding from the opening lot, pushing prices continually higher. The Western MPGs closed the day between 31 and 54 cents above the previous day. The increases pushed all the Western MPGs above those of the Eastern centers, setting a positive precedent for next week’s opening.

The EMI closed the 2022 calendar year at 1,327 Australian cents. To this point in the 2023 calendar year, the EMI has lost exactly 200 cents for a drop of 15.1 percent. Compared to the corresponding sale of the previous season, the EMI is 192 cents lower for a 14.6 percent reduction.

Next week’s offering is of a similar size as 43,882 bales are expected to be offered nationally.

Click Here for the Australian Wool Report Prices in USc Per Pound.

Source: AWEX

 

Mobile Lamb 300 Course Set for Spokane

Washington State University Extension and the Washington State Department of Agriculture through the WA Meat-UP program – with grant funding from the USDA NIFA Western Extension Risk Management – are excited to announce the first Mobile LAMB 300 short-course. The course is a spin-off of the traditional WSU LAMB 300 courses held on WSU Pullman campus in the past. This hand-on LAMB 300 course will be held Oct. 5-7 at the WSU Extension Spokane County office.

Mobile LAMB 300 is a three-day, hands-on workshop designed for progressive individuals involved with all aspects of the sheep industry. The course will focus on teaching producers, feeders and marketers – regardless of the size or type of operation – how to produce and market quality lambs and lamb products. Participants will learn how nutritional, genetic and managerial factors contribute to meat quality. Participants will also learn how meat quality factors influence the price producers receive for lamb and lamb products marketed through various outlets.

This program will increase one’s understanding of lamb quality and marketing, enabling participants to make informed decisions to improve profitability, competitiveness and wholesomeness of their products. Packer, retailer and chef participation is also encouraged, as each segment gains appreciation for opportunity to improve profitability for all involved in the production of lamb and enhances the quality eating experience for the consumer. The course will feature nationally recognized speakers in the area of sheep production, feeding, processing and marketing.

The registration fee for Mobile LAMB 300 is $125 per participant, which covers meals, materials and parking arrangements. Hotel accommodations will be the responsibility of the participants. The course is limited to 16 participants and will be available on a first-pay, first-serve basis. The registration deadline is Sept. 20.

For additional information, contact:  Paul Kuber, 509-477-2185 or pskuber@wsu.edu; or Sarah M. Smith, WSU Regional Extension Specialist, 509-754-2011, Ext 4363 or smithsm@wsu.edu.

Click Here for more information or to register.

Source: Washington State Sheep Producers

 

Montana Ram and Ewe Sales Coming to Miles City in September

The Montana Wool Growers Association would like to invite you to attend the 98th Montana Ram Sale and 10th Annual Montana Ewe Sale. Both sales will be held in Miles City, Mont., at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds, on Sept. 13-14. Last year the sales drew buyers from seven states.

Sheep week kicks off with consignors and sheep arriving from across the state early in the week. On Wednesday, Montana State University Extension will host Sheep and Wool Judging for youth and adults. The sheep judging will start at 9 am. There will be a lamb brat lunch at 11:30 a.m., and the event will finish up with the wool judging at 1:30 p.m.

After the judging contest, there is a social hour at 5 p.m., with the Ewe Sale following at 6 p.m. More than 1,200 head of reputation ewes will be offered from 20 consignor families. More information on breeds and lots sizes available can be found at mtsheep.org.

On Thursday, a lamb BBQ lunch will be served at the fairgrounds starting at 11 a.m. The 98th Montana Ram Sale will start at noon. Twenty-one Montana consignors will deliver more than 285 of the best rams produced in the state. Breeds available include: Rambouillet, Targhee,

Suffolk and Hampshire/Suffolk cross. Most rams have data available, such as: Estimated Breeding Values, scrapie codon, production records, ribeye scans, ratios, wool micron results, and more. All the rams and ewes onsite will be vet-checked on Tuesday of sale week, and ready to perform when you haul them home.

The sales will be offered in-person and online. Frontier Productions will be offering the online portion of the sale at: FrontierLiveSale.com. Lewistown Livestock will be handling the sale management.

Updates and more details can be found at www.mtsheep.org and the Montana Wool Growers Association Facebook page. The Ram and Ewe Sale catalog are available online at FrontierLiveSale.com.

Source: MWGA

 

Shearing School Hosts Should Contact ASI

Planning to host a shearing school in the coming months? The American Sheep Industry Association wants to know about it so your school can be included in all association calendars (ASI Weekly, Sheep Industry News and ASI website).

ASI also offers shearing manuals, posters and videos for shearing school students, which can be purchased at SheepUSA.org/shop or by emailing heather@sheepusa.org.

Here are the schools that have notified ASI so far this year:

• Ohio State University Statewide Shearing School, Sept. 22-23 in Hebron, Ohio. Visit az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cC5tH6lze6fh66i for more information.
• South Dakota State University Shearing School, Oct. 7-9 in Brookings, S.D. Visit sdstate.edu/event/sdsu-sheep-shearing-school for more information.
• Montana Wool Harvesting School, Oct. 12-15 in Billings and Molt, Mont. Visit montana.edu/sheep/woolharvesting.html for more information.
• Advanced Shearing School, Oct. 13-15 in Dublin, Va. Contact Tom Stanley at 540-588-0241 or stanleyt@vt.edu.
• Utah State University Shearing School, Jan. 18-20, 2024, Details TBA.
• Washington State Beginner Shearing School, April 22-26, 2024, Moses Lake, Wash. An advanced shearing school will also be conducted on April 27. Contact Sarah Smith at 509-754-2011, ext. 4363 or smithsm@wsu.edu.

 

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.

 

Ag Appropriations Bill Headed to Senate Floor

With the U.S. Senate back in session after a long August recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee announced on Wednesday that the committee plans to proceed with the first set of appropriations bills on the Senate floor as early as next week. One of the bills expected to be considered is the agriculture spending bill, in addition to the military construction, veteran affairs and the transportation, housing and urban development appropriations bills.

An exact floor date has not been set yet. Members of Congress have until the Sept. 30 deadline to pass all 12 appropriation bills or a continuing resolution that can provide short-term funding to avoid a government shutdown.

Click Here for more information.

 

ALB Launches New Website

American lamb producers can now turn to LambBoard.com for resources on checkoff production, promotion and other programs. The new American Lamb Board official website launched yesterday.

“This is a totally new site all for the American lamb industry – commercial and seedstock producers, feeders, direct marketers, sale managers, auction markets and processors. In addition to production and promotion resources, it’s also the home to everything about the American Lamb Board and the checkoff program,” says ALB Chair Peter Camino of Buffalo, Wyo.

A wealth of information is available on the new website, including best practices for sheep productivity and efficiency, lamb quality, recipes and premium items for local promotions in the ALB Store, free downloadable handouts, details on ALB’s cooperative funding program, the latest news and results of the American Lamb Checkoff’s activities, and even an online assessment payment tool.

Those who sell American lamb directly to consumers will want to check out toolkits on marketing to ethnic markets and other resources.

LambBoard.com replaces the previous industry website, LambResourceCenter.com. Information for consumers and chefs on American lamb, such as cooking videos, recipes, sustainability and how sheep are raised in the United States is available at AmericanLamb.com.

Source: ALB

 

Webinar: Lamb in a Healthful Diet

Join the American Lamb Board for an in-depth conversation with Dr. Sabrina Falquier – a culinary medicine physician – on Sept. 19 at 8:30 p.m. eastern time as she explains how lamb fits into a well-balanced and nutrient-dense eating pattern.

This live presentation will showcase practical applications of preparing lamb utilizing Culinary Medicine Principles as Dr. Falquier will demonstrate two recipes highlighting widely available and affordable cuts of lamb.

Recipes to be demonstrated:

• Blended lamb, bean and mushroom burger
• Lamb Shakshouka

At the end of the workshop, one lucky winner from those present on the call will be randomly selected to receive a boneless leg and two pounds of ground American lamb.

Spots are limited, register now to ensure your chance to tune in.

Click Here to register.

Source: ALB