Represent Your State in Washington, D.C.

Make your plans to attend the annual spring trip to Washington, D.C. Members of the American Sheep Industry Association's (ASI) Legislative Action Council, along with member state sheep association delegates, will be in Washington from May 2-5.

The purpose of the trip is to bring the message of the sheep industry to the nation's capitol and coordinate updates on wool, lamb, sheep disease and protection programs with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Visits with federal policy makers regarding legislation and meetings with agriculture and land management agencies about programs that affect the business of sheep producers in this country are being planned. Topics of interest for these meetings include appropriations for top sheep programs at USDA including Wildlife Services and scrapie eradication, which are both in jeopardy of reduced funding as advocated by the President's budget; legislation supported to restrict National Monument designation; limits on Equal Access to Justice Act payments to anti-livestock groups; Endangered Species Act delisting of wolves; and sheep priorities in the next Farm Bill.

The much anticipated American lamb barbecue for congressional and administration representatives will again be hosted by ASI on Wed., May 4, in Alexandria, Va.

Producers interested in participating in this event should contact their state association or Peter Orwick at porwrick@sheepusa.org.

Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33