Industry Partner Membership

2008-2009 Industry Partners

ASI…20 Year Anniversary…Transition from Tradition is the theme for the 2009 American Sheep Industry Association's (ASI) Annual Convention in San Diego, California, Jan. 21-24, 2009. As with recent conventions, this year's meeting with be an industry-wide affair with all sheep industry organizations participating from the National Lamb Feeders Association, the American Lamb Board and the Western Range Association to the American Sheep and Goat Center, the National Livestock Producers Association and the Make It With Wool national contestants.

We invite you to become a 2008-2009 Industry Partner and to help make this convention and the coming year a success for the U.S. sheep business. ASI absolutely could not conduct a share of the programs nor tackle the range of issues it does without the support provided by our Industry Partners. As president of the association, I speak for the entire Board of Directors when I say your contributions make a difference.

Consider some of the accomplishments achieved by ASI in fiscal year 2007-2008:

• Through ASI's efforts, the Wool Fabric Legislation has been extended for an additional five years providing positive direction for wool textile manufacturers, mills and producers. The legislation also includes the American Wool Trust, which provides significant funds for wool marketing, production and industry communications. Additionally, U.S. wool mills and fabric manufacturers receive considerable financial benefit in terms of product development, quality improvement and wool market expansion.
• ASI continues to apply for and receive Foreign Agricultural Service funding to create, expand and maintain foreign markets for U.S. wool. Because of these programs, the U.S. sheep industry now exports as much as 70 percent of its annual clip.
• ASI requested and USDA approved a $2 million lamb purchase program. Nearly $500,000 worth of American lamb was successfully bid in September for delivery this winter to help strengthen the lamb market. Prices were higher than at any point in the history of this lamb program, recognizing the high fuel and feed costs.
• ASI and state associations secured wide-reaching sheep programs in the 2008 Farm Bill including: re-authorization of the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center with mandatory funding of $1 million; a provision for a permanent disaster assistance program; an increase in the wool LDP loan rate from $1 to $1.15 beginning with the 2010 crop year; and encouraged development and approval of drugs for minor species.

ASI's goal remains to promote the well-being and profitability of the U.S. sheep industry. Your contribution can assist ASI in continuing to achieve this goal. I ask you to seriously consider an Industry Partnership with ASI.

Please call Peter Orwick at 303-771-3500, ext. 33, or myself at 701-867-2875 with any questions or requests. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Burdell Johnson, President