Sheep Producers Testify at Field Hearings

August 18, 2006 - The Agriculture Committee of the U.S. Senate continued to conduct field hearings across the country this week. Field hearings took place in Oregon, Nebraska and Montana to begin the process of reviewing the 2002 Farm Bill which is set to expire in 2007.

In Grand Island, Neb., Dwight Tisdale, a sheep producer from Kimball, Neb., and member of the American Sheep Industry Association's (ASI) Legislative Action Council, testified on behalf of the sheep industry.

To demonstrate industry solidarity, Tisdale complimented U.S. sheep producers for passing the national referendum by 80 percent thus providing the American Lamb Board an opportunity to continue marketing and promoting American lamb. He also called attention to the accomplishments of the American Wool Council in its work in building export markets for the domestic wool clip.

Tisdale prioritized the concerns of the sheep industry by requesting assistance for: the continuation of the ewe-lamb retention program, modifications to the loan deficiency program for wool, continued support of the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center and the enactment of the livestock risk-protection product for lamb.

A couple common themes expressed by the representatives from the various commodity groups included the importance of maintaining government support programs at the same levels as the current Farm Bill as well as reinstating the mandatory livestock price reporting act.

"With only 12 producers from the state of Nebraska being given the opportunity to testify during this field hearing, I felt honored to be able to represent the sheep industry," commented Tisdale. "We increased the committee's awareness of how important the reauthorization of the sheep center is to the infrastructure of our industry and reminded them that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has yet to approve a risk protection product for lamb."
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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