First-ever Lamb Livestock Risk Protection Plan Submitted to USDA

November 2004 -- The U.S. sheep industry?s ?Livestock Risk Protection? (LRP) pilot project request, called LRP-Lamb, has garnered wide support. Fifteen U.S. senators submitted on Oct. 1, 2004, a letter to Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Chairman Dr. Keith Collins in which they voiced their strong support for an LRP program for the United States? 64,000 farms and ranches that raise 6.4 million head of sheep and lambs.

?It is envisioned that a successful LRP for lamb will provide sheep producers a much needed risk management option and will strengthen the entire industry with a measure of protection against price volatility,? wrote the senators.

Signatories included Sens. Larry Craig (R-ID); Tom Daschle (D-SD); Conrad Burns (R-MT); Arlen Specter (R-PA); Byron Dorgan (D-ND); Michael Enzi (R-WY); Jeff Bingaman (D-NM); Ron Wyden (D-OR); Mike Crapo (R-ID); Craig Thomas (R-WY); Rick Santorum (R-PA); Wayne Allard (R-CO); Tim Johnson (D-SD); Max Baucus (D-MT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT).

In addition, 27 individuals and state sheep associations have sent letters of support to USDA.