Final Week to Enter the ASI Photo Contest
There’s still time to enter the 2025 ASI Photo Contest, but the deadline is fast approaching:
Friday, August 1 at 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
Show us your best shots of sheep! This year’s categories include:
- Scenic – Sheep in beautiful landscapes (no people).
- White Wool Sheep – White-faced breeds in action.
- Naturally Colored Sheep – All the rich, natural hues.
- Hair Sheep – Katahdins, Dorpers, St. Croix, Barbados Blackbelly, and other hair sheep breeds.
- Open – Anything else that captures the spirit of sheep production.
Submit entries to: [email protected]
Click Here for more details
National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Announces Requests for Proposals
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2025 – The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors is accepting grant proposals from July 1 through September 15 designed to improve the U.S. sheep industry.
The Center was re-established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. In the 2019 Farm Bill, the Center was awarded funding by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service to be used for the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program. Grant funding can be used on activities designed to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and sheep products in the United States through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development, and market research. Currently, the Center has budgeted approximately $300,000 for grants that will support projects consistent with the Center’s Strategic Plan Priorities.
Financial assistance provided by the Center must accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
- Strengthen and improve long-term sustainability of the lamb and wool industry’s infrastructure by increasing the numbers in production.
- Provide integration of performance/production data from sources that can help enhance the sheep industry within the U.S.
- Provide leadership training and education to sheep industry producers and packers.
- Enhance sheep production by improving infrastructure of the U.S. sheep industry through assistance to all segments of the industry to address production and marketing of sheep milk, meat, fiber and related services such as grazing and ranch management.
- Promote lamb marketing through an organized method that can measure tangible results.
- Enhance the sheep industry by coordinating information exchange and seeking mutual understanding and marketing within the industry community.
The NSIIC board is composed of seven voting members. Voting members include four domestic producers, two members with expertise in finance and management, and one member with expertise in lamb, wool, or product marketing. The board will review each proposal, recommend funding, and submit final recommendations to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for approval.
Additional information can be found on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Website at www.nsiic.org. For more information and applications contact Mr. Steve Lee, Program Manager; National Sheep Industry Improvement Center; Telephone: (207) 236-6567; via email at [email protected].
Grant Funding Available through the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program
On July 22nd , the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced grant proposals are being accepted for the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program (SPMGP) for projects designed to improve the U.S. sheep industry. The funding is managed by the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC), which is the recipient responsible for implementing the SPMGP. The center has allocated $300,000 for this year’s round of grant funding. NSIIC is currently accepting grant proposals through September 15, 2025.
Funding can be used for activities designed to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and sheep products in the United States through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development, and market research.
Source: USDA
Legislative Update from Washington, D.C.
The American Sheep Industry Association’s lobbying firm – Cornerstone Government Affairs – offered an update this week on legislative issues in our nation’s capital.
USDA announces large-scale reorganization plan
On Thursday, July 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a large-scale reorganization plan. The phased strategy involves relocating many of the agency’s headquarters and National Capital Region (NCR) staff out of Washington, D.C., to five regional hub locations. Due to the high cost of living and the federal salary locality rate (33.94%) in the NCR, USDA selected hubs where USDA employees are already concentrated, and the cost of living is lower. These five regions and their federal locality rates have been identified as Raleigh, North Carolina (22.24%); Kansas City, Missouri (18.97%); Indianapolis, Indiana (18.15%); Fort Collins, Colorado (30.52%); and Salt Lake City, Utah (17.06%). Through these changes, USDA hopes to ensure the size of USDA’s workforce aligns with available financial resources and agricultural priorities, bring USDA closer to its customers, eliminate management layers and bureaucracy, and consolidate redundant support functions. Over the next month, USDA senior leadership is expected to notify offices with more details regarding relocation during this first phase of a multi-month process. For more information, please see USDA’s initial press release here.
Australia plans to reduce US beef import restrictions
On July 24, Australia announced plans to relax biosecurity regulations on the U.S. beef industry. The restrictions in place on U.S. beef have been imposed by Australia based on animal disease exposure standards. While this plan has not officially been announced by the U.S., both President Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins have made public comments on their view of Australia’s actions being a breakthrough for agriculture as part of their larger initiative to strengthen U.S. trade. Even though the initiative does not directly affect the sheep industry, it furthers the initiative for U.S. producers to gain greater access to the Australian agriculture market. ASI will use this momentum to continue its conversations with Congress and the Office of the United States Trade Representative to capitalize on the Administration’s current trade goals.
House Agriculture Committee holds hearing examining the implications of Prop 12
On Wednesday, July 23, the House ag committee met to hear testimony on the impacts of California’s Prop 12, a state ballot measure which required sows, egg-laying hens, and calves for veal production intended for California’s marketplace to meet minimum confinement standards. Both Democrats and Republicans evaluated the Supreme Court of the United States’ (SCOTUS) 2022 ruling of National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) v. Ross, which challenged the legality of Prop 12 and its impact on interstate commerce in accordance with the Dormant Commerce Clause. Republicans focused on the economic burdens, increased costs, and negative impacts on small and mid-sized farms, advocating for federal action to prevent states from imposing production standards beyond their borders. Democrats emphasized the need to balance state rights, respect for voter decisions, and the investments already made by producers, while also raising concerns about broader agricultural issues such as trade, labor shortages, and nutrition programs. Other topics discussed included the risk of consolidation within the livestock industry, commodity checkoffs, animal welfare, Massachusetts’ Question 3, and workplace safety. While Prop 12 does not directly regulate the sheep industry, it is a monumental regulation impacting in-state and out of state authority on the agriculture and livestock industries. To watch the hearing, please see the following link.
House Natural Resource Committee holds a hearing on NEPA Permitting
On Tuesday, July 22, members of the House Natural Resource Committee met to hear testimony on the impacts of NEPA regulations on the energy and agriculture industry. Members paid particular attention to the recent legislative changes caused by the Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition vs. Eagle County and the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) that reduced the scope of judicial review under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), established page limits for Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), and set timelines for the project approval process. Republicans praised these reforms and emphasized the often long and complex nature of approval processes for both traditional and renewable energy projects. They called for further reforms to NEPA, including reducing litigation delays and increasing public accountability. Democrats focused on the effectiveness of NEPA in allowing community input and evaluating the full impact of a project. Democrats also criticized the Trump Administration’s staffing cuts, saying that the cuts would decrease the efficiency of permitting and place strain upon federal agencies. Other topics discussed included the role of technology in permitting, impacts on tribal sovereignty, litigation funding, and the balance between renewable and fossil fuel project approvals. To watch the hearing, please see the following link.
House Ag holds livestock hearing on NAHLN
On Tuesday, July 15, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held a hearing titled, “Safeguarding U.S. Agriculture: The Role of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).” During the hearing, Democrats and Republicans voiced support for increased preventative measures to combat the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and New World Screwworm (NWS). Witnesses emphasized the importance of the support system the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) provides, citing its historically successful collaboration in combating foreign animal disease outbreaks. Republicans raised concerns about HPAI vaccinations in livestock, emphasizing their impact on international trade. Other topics of discussion included support for identifying and combatting the growing risk of agroterrorism, how diagnostic laboratories can be promoted, increased veterinarian shortages, and the importance of NAHLN’s continued partnership with federal, state and private stakeholders. You can watch the full hearing here.
China Suspends Section 301 Tariff Exclusion for US Agricultural Products
Chinese importers have reported to FAS China that a pop-up window appears when they apply for tariff exclusions for U.S. commodities on the Ministry of Finance website that states, “no new applications will be accepted for this tariff line from August 1, 2025, and approved applications will be valid until September 14, 2025.” The Ministry of Finance has not provided any announcement or explanation about the apparent policy change. It is not immediately clear whether the suspension of tariff exclusion covers all applicable products from the United States, but industry sources have confirmed that most U.S. agricultural products, including grains, oilseeds, meat, pulses, tree nuts, alcohol, leather/hide, and fruit, are affected.
In March 2020, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) under the Ministry of Finance put in place a market-based tariff exclusion process where importers can apply to waive the Section 301 retaliatory tariffs imposed on products from the United States (see GAIN report CH2020-0017). A list of 696 tariff lines, including approximately 150 agriculture-related products, are eligible for tariff exclusion. SCTC also allows the exclusion applications to cover products outside the list. (Note: Section 232 retaliatory tariffs are not included in the process.) The attached spreadsheet includes the tariffs currently applicable to U.S. agricultural products entering the Chinese market.
Source: USDA
Eastern and Western Markets End on a High Note Before Recess
The Australian wool market held the final sale before the annual three-week mid-year recess this week. This sale has the potential to behave in one of two ways. Buyers needing to fill orders, have this final auction buying opportunity in which to do so. This can result in pressure on specific pockets of the market, as buyers compete over similar lots needed to complete their export orders. This in turn can lead to an upward turn in the market. The potential downside of the break is that some buyers are reluctant to start new orders, knowing that filling the order before the break could be problematic. In welcome news to woolgrowers, it was the first scenario that transpired this week. With 37,946 bales available to the trade, competition was often fierce across specific wool types, as buyers fought to complete orders needed for immediate shipment. Fremantle selling only on the first day, was yet to enjoy the rises on offer in the previous series. The Western region heads into the recess on a buoyant note after a strong finish. The Western Micron Price Guides (MPGs) closed between 19 and 31 cents higher. In the East the market pushed further into positive territory, adding further gains to those experienced over the previous few weeks. The Eastern MPGs increased by between 5 and 38 cents. The benchmark Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) added 18 cents for the week, closing at 1,239 cents. The market continues to enjoy a strong start to the 2025/26 wool selling season. The EMI has risen across all four-selling series of the new season. In further positive news, although playing its part, the currency was not the driving influence on the market. The EMI rose by a similar amount in USD terms. The market is now in recess. Sales will resume week beginning Monday the 18th of August.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Chart – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: AWEX
SDSU West River Research Farm Uses Sheep to Transition Land to Organic Practices
At South Dakota State University’s West River Research Farm, researchers are using an innovative approach to organic farming by incorporating sheep grazing as a natural way to manage and restore the land. This method helps reduce reliance on chemical inputs while promoting soil health and biodiversity during the transition to organic certification.
Sheep grazing not only controls weeds and promotes nutrient cycling but also supports sustainable farming practices that benefit the environment and the local agricultural community.
Click Here to learn more about this research.
Source: AGWeek
National Grazing Lands Coalition – Free Webinar on Small Ruminants
Thinking about expanding your livestock operation? Curious about the benefits of adding sheep or goats to your grazing system? Join Graze On Over Webinar hosted by National Grazing Lands Coalition for Adding Small Ruminants to Your Operation, an insightful session featuring two industry experts who will offer research-based strategies and practical tips for integrating small ruminants into diverse grazing operations.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Andrew Weaver – Extension Small Ruminant Specialist, North Carolina State University
Dr. Weaver specializes in small ruminant management, genetics, and parasite resistance, with a focus on improving productivity across the Southeast.
Alison Crane – Executive Director, Wyoming Wool Growers Association
With deep expertise in small ruminant nutrition and wool quality, Alison has been a driving force in supporting and growing the sheep industry in Wyoming and beyond.
Why Do Sheep Need Haircuts?
This short and fun podcast from Lancaster Farming’s Super Smart Farm Show answers a simple question for curious young minds: Why do sheep need haircuts? It’s a great resource to share with kids or classrooms learning about farming and wool.
Clicke Here to listen to the podcast.