As the oldest livestock association in the United States, ASI has shepherded the sheep industry through more than a few changes in its 150-plus years of existence. I’m humbled to have been elected to lead such an associa-tion at our annual convention back in Janu-ary 2017 in Denver.

The past year was kind to our industry. Sweeping changes in Washington, D.C., leave us with reason to believe that many of

the burdensome government regulations that have taken so much of the association’s time in recent years will soon be a thing of the past. We’ve already seen the repeal of the BLM Planning 2.0 regulations passed by the previous administration. We encourage the current administration to ensure multiple use on our nation’s public lands.

Representing the nation’s sheep producers, ASI officials have al-

ready testified at congressional hearings concerning the 2018 Farm Bill and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting program. We are optimistic on both fronts. ASI restored key price reports in 2017 and submitted a paper to USDA and Congress on how to resolve confidentiality rules that prevent some reports from being made public. We will keep the pressure on to provide producers and feeders with accurate market information. The work of the last year resulted in resumed sales of LRP-Lamb insurance, a move that paid millions of dollars to producers and feeders again in 2017 and 2018.

I would encourage each and every one of you to take advantage of the programs and resources offered through your state and na-tional sheep associations. We are here to assist you in any way that we can.

Mike CornASI President

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Mike Corn

ASI CONVENTION: JAN. 23-26, 2019 ~ NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

ASI Keeps You Connected to the Sheep Industry

American Sheep IndustryAssociation

2018 State Brochure

Led by chairman Mike Conaway (Texas), the agriculture committee of the U.S. House of Representatives approved in April 2018 the strongest Farm Bill in recent memory for sheep producers.

The legislation would fund a key request of ASI for the Minor Use Animal Drug Pro-gram.

“We believe this provision will impact essentially every sheep farm and ranch in America due to the demand for parasite con-trol and sheep biologics,” said ASI President Mike Corn.

The Farm Bill should provide producers a reasonable safety net, encourage rural growth and support the production of American food and fiber. With passage in committee, the Farm Bill moves to the full House for ap-proval in May and then on to the U.S. Senate.

Priorities for the sheep industry include:• The Sheep Production and Marketing

Grant Program. The program is connected to the National Sheep Industry Improvement

Center and was authorized in the 2014 farm bill, providing $1.5 million on a competitive basis to national organizations whose mission is to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and sheep products in the United States. ASI supports manda-tory funding for the program and is pleased to see an increase to $2 million in the House proposal.

• A Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank. An outbreak has the ability to cripple the American livestock industry. ASI joined other livestock associations in requesting $150 mil-lion a year in mandatory funding to establish a viable vaccine bank.

• The Textile Trust. American wool cus-tomers state the trust is critical to sustaining their business and appreciate that ASI leader-ship has secured this legislation every few years since 2000. This trust addresses a trade loophole in the north American Free Trade agreement that threatened American mills.

• USDA/Foreign Agriculture Service

export programs. Access to foreign markets is critical for the sheep industry. Approximately 60 percent of American wool is exported. ASI supports funding for FAS programs that assist in promoting and exporting wool.

• Wool Marketing Assistance Loan and Loan Deficiency Payment. The 2014 Farm Bill authorizes nonrecourse marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments for wool to eligible producers who grow and shear wool for the 2014 through 2018 crop years. The LDP program is available to eligible pro-ducers of nongraded and graded wool. ASI is pursuing increased rates for this program, as the current rates have not kept pace with markets and producer costs.

• Emergency and drought provisions. ASI continues as a leader in securing emergency conservation, livestock forage and indemnity provisions to assist producers when disaster strikes. The House committee version of the bill also reauthorizes these provisions to build an all-around package for sheep producers.

ASI Supports Passage of Farm Bill by U.S. House

ASI leaders met in late 2017 with USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McK-inney on the priority to open overseas mar-kets such as Japan and Europe to American lamb. The industry asked that trade ben-efits happen for American producers prior to USDA considering any enhancement of trade for lamb from Europe.

The association also met this winter with USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach on the importance of funding Wildlife Services and providing ear tags free of charge to sheep producers for the scrapie program. ASI reiterated the trade position that markets closed to American lamb – such as Japan since the beef BSE crisis – must be

opened before any health rules are pub-lished allowing more product imports to the United States. Finalizing updates to the scrapie rule is also a priority.

Finally, ASI officers met with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to again ad-dress the previously mentioned priorities, as well as funding and full operation of the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho.

The industry shared with USDA leaders the importance of herders for sheep on U.S. Forest Service lands, as well as the impor-tance of research by USSES and the Agri-culture Research Service. Specifically, this research is addressing issues surrounding bighorn sheep and the threat to domestic sheep grazing.

ASI Discusses Trade, Health with USDA Leaders

Having awarded five rounds of grants in the past three years, ASI’s Let’s Grow Program has developed a vast resource of research and information that will prove beneficial to sheep producers around the United States.

“That information is now available in an easy-to-use Let’s Grow Resource Center that was recently devel-oped with information obtained through the grant recipients,” said Let’s Grow Committee Chair and ASI Secretary/Treasurer Susan Shultz of Ohio. “That infor-mation can play a vital role in helping sheep producers increase their flock’s productivity and efficiency.

Information will also be added as available from ongoing grant projects. Visit Sheepusa.org/Resources_LetsGrowResources.

Let’s Grow ProvidesValuable Resources

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ASI CONVENTION: JAN. 23-26, 2019 ~ NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANAASI CONVENTION: JAN. 23-26, 2019 ~ NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

New Logo, Branding Developed for American WoolAs American consumers embrace the natural magic of homegrown

wool, the American Wool Council has adopted a new look that brings the industry’s image up to par with the products being created every-day with this innovative, sustainable fiber.

A division of ASI, the American Wool Council developed a new logo in 2016 and followed with the creation of a consumer-oriented American wool website in 2017. AmericanWool.org offers relevant information on the qualities and benefits of wool, as well as guides for care and use of American wool.

American wool is vigorous enough to support the U.S. military on the front lines of battle, yet elegant enough to grace red carpets.

Domestic ProgramsTo maintain the high standard of wool preparation necessary for

today’s global wool market, ASI continues its multi-sector wool quality program.

Hosting shearing, classing and handling schools to educate produc-ers and wool handlers about producing a quality wool clip, the certi-fied wool program for growers and shearers is designed to maximize the quality of the wool clip. The program includes shearing site and crew visits to assist at the farm level, which provides a valuable source of training and information.

U.S. Sock ProductionThere is a thriving sock-knitting industry in the United States. With

the installation of the wool superwash line in South Carolina – mak-ing wool washable – sock makers are genuinely proud to be able to use the “Made in America” tag line. The U.S. wool clip is well matched to the sock program because of the loftiness of the fiber produced here.

Department of DefenseASI continues to work with the Department of Defense to identify

needs and to assess how wool will fit into fulfilling these needs. Wool is a natural answer to meet the “No Melt, No Drip” position of the United States Army and other military sectors when it comes to cloth-ing our troops.

The Berry Amendment requires the United States military to source clothing and supplies domestically when possible. Because of this, the military is the largest single domestic buyer of the American wool clip. Wool is used in everything from uniforms and outer wear to socks and blankets.

International ProgramsASI supports international marketing of American wool by sup-

porting trade missions each year while developing key markets such as China, India and Western Europe.

During trade missions sponsored by ASI through the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service, participants pur-chased more than 1.2 million pounds of U.S. wool in just one trip.

ASI works with FAS’ Quality Samples Program to provide Ameri-can wool samples to prospective buyers overseas.

ASI is taking steps to alert producers to the fact that animal agri-culture is under attack from groups that want to eliminate all animal use. Undercover videos and increasing utilization of social media facilitate exposure of farms and ranches across the United States.

It is the responsibility of the producer to assure the actions of any-one on their property is appropriate. The industry has high standards for animal welfare. The Animal Agriculture Alliance reminds produc-ers to:

1. Do the right thing. Implement scientifically-verified animal care

programs. Conduct training, as well as in-house and third-party audits to ensure all policies are being followed at all times by all em-ployees. Act swiftly to correct any problems.

2. Be cautious. Thoroughly vet any new hires. Require that all em-ployees, starting with new hires, sign an animal care code of conduct. Train your longtime employees to watch for suspicious behavior.

3. Plan ahead. Build relationships with your community, local law enforcement and media. Create a crisis management plan in advance in the event that you become a target of an activist group.

Emphasis on Animal Welfare Protects Producers Domestic and Bighorn Sheep Conflict A PriorityASI recognizes the legal obligations of the

U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Man-agement to analyze all threats to the viability of bighorn sheep.

However, ASI does not recognize “single species viability” as trumping all legal obligations for multiple use of federal lands, including grazing.

Calls for closing various allotments and removing domestic sheep, in spite of the lack of clear scientific cause and effect, have already occurred. Given this, ASI requests a simple, equitable exchange: find suitable alternative allotments for those sheep opera-tors whose permits in bighorn habitat have been reduced.

Making alternative allotments available will require completion of an environmental

analysis and other clearances, and this can take some time. Therefore, no translocations of domestic sheep to alternative allotments should be mandated until all challenges to the use of those allotments by domestic sheep are resolved.

ASI strongly supports this equitable approach allowing for the survival of the domestic sheep industry. The facts are these:

• Domestic sheep and bighorns have coex-isted in many of the same areas for decades without decimating bighorn herds.

• There is no single, identifiable pathogen responsible for the most common respiratory diseases in bighorn sheep that can clearly be tied to contact with domestic sheep on the open range. In fact, there are documented die-offs of bighorns in areas far removed

from any domestic sheep.• New research from USDA’s Animal

Research Service has shown that a variety of animals – not just domestic sheep – are car-riers of Mycoplasma ovis. The infectious bac-terium can lead to ill-thrift or death in both domestic and bighorn sheep. The bacterium can be carried (and thus spread) by white-tailed deer and goats, as well as sheep.

• USDA is heavily involved in research to identify the causes of bighorn diseases and transmission vectors. The sheep industry strongly supports this research, with con-tributions exceeding $100,000 in the last 48 months. Yet, research conducted by USDA’s intramural science agency is specifically be-ing ignored by USFS in abject contravention to congressional direction.

The American sheep industry routinely takes the lead in support-ing Wildlife Services with letters to Congress. More than 200 orga-nizations – including food producers, wildlife groups, sportsmen, aviation and local governments – have signed on to ASI letters urging congressional support of this vital service.

Wildlife causes more than $12.8 billion in damage each year to natural resources, public infrastructures, private property and agriculture. Wildlife Services works to prevent, minimize or manage this damage. Predators cause more than $137 million in death loss to livestock alone each year. It’s easy to see how that number could soar

dramatically without the assistance offered through Wildlife Services. ASI successfully defended the continued use of the M-44 “coyote get-

ter” in the 16 states authorized for use after the loss of a dog in Idaho. ASI aggressively worked with the agency and new administration at USDA to maintain the tool – which often proves to be the most effective deterrent in the states where it is used. Coyotes are the No. 1 predator of sheep.

Because of ASI’s support, USDA announced the new deputy ad-ministrator of Wildlife Services and resumption of M-44 use at the 2018 ASI Convention in San Antonio.

The How to Handle Sheep video series released by the American Sheep Industry Associa-tion, in collaboration with Temple Grandin, Ph.D., the Livestock Marketing Association and Colorado State University, has been well received on YouTube. The three-part video details the process of handling sheep through the entire life span of the animal.

The training tool is available in both English and Spanish. From producers and auction-facility workers to the transportation industry and harvesting personnel, everyone can fol-low Dr. Grandin as she discusses the best practices to use in handling sheep.

ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick strongly encourages all sheep operations to ensure their livestock workers – whether full- or part-time employees or neighbors – are educated.

“These videos are a convenient way to accomplish this goal,” said Orwick. “Poorly trained or uneducated workers who help with sheep are a business liability that is not necessary with today’s access to training.”

The videos are available on ASI’s YouTube Channel at Youtube.com/user/SheepUSA1.

Sheep Handling Video Offers Insight

Young producers looking to get a leg up in starting their own operation or taking over the family farm/ranch will benefit from involvement in ASI’s Young Entrepreneurs.

The Young Entrepreneurs meet each year during the ASI Annual Convention in Janu-ary to discuss issues they are facing as they lead the American sheep industry into the future. More importantly, networking oppor-tunities allow young producers to find their place in the industry and can be beneficial when it comes to buying and selling live-stock, purchasing equipment and more.

In addition, the Young Entrepreneurs began hosting summer tours of sheep opera-tions and industry supporters in 2017. The tours offer the chance to learn first-hand from other operations.

For more information on the Young Entrepreneurs, visit Sheepusa.org or email Chase Adams at chase@sheepusa.org.

Supporting Wildlife Services Is an Industry Priority

Next GenerationInvolved in

YE Program