Lead Story -- Sign-up for Ewe-Lamb Payment Program Expected this Fall

September 2004 -- The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) was notified July 14, 2004, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue the proposed regulation supporting the 2004 Retained Ewe-Lamb Program for a public comment period.

This formal process likely will require two months, after which sign-up will begin.

?The key message to the nation?s sheep producers is that the program will be implemented,? says ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick. ?Initially, we anticipated a sign-up deadline of July or August, but due to the time it has taken USDA to clear all the paperwork and application form, we should consider late September for the start of sign-up.?

USDA?s Farm Service Agency (FSA) provided in late July a status update for county FSA offices, clarifying that clearance is underway, that a sign-up date will be announced and that sheep producers be reminded to maintain ewe-lamb records.

As was announced by the department earlier this year, the base period of ewe-lamb program eligibility is Aug. 1, 2003, to July 31, 2004. (Ewe lambs must have been ?qualified? at some point during this period.)

?A great deal of enthusiasm for this program, aimed at building the U.S. sheep inventory, has been generated since the official commitment of USDA was announced in January 2004 ? producers are anxious not to miss out on the sign-up period,? adds ASI President and Ohio sheep producer Guy Flora. ?Due to the number of calls to FSA offices, it was important that USDA update county FSA officials on the regulatory process and inform producers, for sign-up at least, that neither July nor August are the deadline months.?

?With a 60-day comment period, producers should look for a sign-up announcement in mid-September at the earliest,? adds Flora. ?If they are considering the purchase of ewe lambs for breeding, then July 31, 2004, in our opinion, ought to be the final date of eligible sales documentation.?

On Jan. 27, 2004, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced that USDA would provide the U.S. lamb industry with $18 million in payments to sheep and lamb producers to encourage the replacement and retention of ewe-lamb breeding stock. The severe drought conditions in 2001 and 2002 reduced ewe-lamb replacement for thousands of producers, who lacked adequate feed and water for ewe-lamb retention.

?The announcement of the ewe-lamb program was a very welcome response by USDA to the ASI leaders? requests, which allows all producers the chance to participate,? says Orwick.