American Lamb Board News

USDA Lamb Buy Program Complete

Oct. 2003 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) on Aug. 5, 2003, purchased 324,000 pounds of boneless lamb roasts at a cost of approximately $1,057,000. The roasts will be distributed in Federal food and nutritional programs.

Total purchases under the Domestic Lamb Industry Adjustment Assistance Program announced on Feb. 14, 2000, are about 6.1 million pounds totaling more than $22.8 million.

Offers for this buy were accepted from six of 10 bidders ? Catelli Brothers, Inc., Collingswood, N.J.; Grove Meat Co., Inc., Blue Island, Ill.; Iowa Lamb Processing Corp., Hawarden, Iowa; Ranchers? Lamb of Texas, San Angelo, Texas; Strauss Veal, Inc., Franklin, Wis.; and Wolverine Packing Co., Detroit, Mich.

With the purchase of these awards, USDA?s lamb-buy program is complete.

?The roast purchase program that was initiated in late 1998 received a major boost when it was included in the 201 Trade Assistance Package in 1999/2000,? commented American Sheep Industry Association President and Ohio sheep producer Guy Flora. ?We believe the purchase program was particularly instrumental in the turn-around of U.S. lamb prices in June 2001.

?The sheep industry now has a successful track record with the USDA and, should lamb prices warrant again, could request to re-establish a similar program in the future,? added Flora. ?Nearly all U.S. lamb companies utilized and benefited from the program during its multi-year run.?

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