Lamb Roast Purchase Program Requested

February 29, 2007 - On Monday, a formal request from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) was sent to Lloyd Day, administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), supporting the expeditious implementation of a section 32 lamb roast purchase program.

"The record high feed and fuel prices have driven costs of gain for slaughter lambs to unprecedented levels," stated Burdell Johnson, president of ASI.

The request also encouraged an economic review of the lamb market situation for the program to examine the costs of production evident throughout 2007 and continuing into 2008. Increased feed and transportation costs have undoubtedly increased the breakeven prices.

The last lamb purchase program was approved by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns in April 2006 with final deliveries earlier this month.

"Based on the success of the purchase program, we strongly support authorization of $5 million though fiscal year 2009," Johnson concluded.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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