Nominations Needed for American Lamb Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking nominations for two producer positions on the American Lamb Board beginning in early 2024. The American Sheep Industry Association is certified to nominate individuals to serve on the board and is seeking nominations by April 24 to forward to USDA/AMS.
The upcoming vacancies for producers include one position for a producer with 100 or less lambs (Region I, producer Sally Scholle is not eligible for reappointment) and one position for a producer with greater than 500 lambs (Region II, producer David McEwen is eligible for reappointment). One producer must be from Region I.
AMS’ policy is that diversity of the boards it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
USDA/AMS requires two nominations for each open position. Nominations – including the application and agreement to serve forms – must be submitted by April 24 to ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick at peter@sheepusa.org.
Click Here to learn more and for links to the necessary forms.
Nominations Needed for National Sheep Industry Improvement Center
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking nominations for two producer positions and one vacancy for a person with expertise in marketing on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center beginning in early 2024. The American Sheep Industry Association is certified to nominate individuals to serve on the board and is seeking nominations by April 24 to forward to USDA/AMS.
This year, three vacant positions will occur for the 2024 Board. There are two vacancies for a sheep producer and one vacancy for a person with expertise in marketing. Jeremy Geske and Brenda Reau are not eligible for reappointment as producers and Steve Lewis is not eligible for reappointment as an expert in marketing.
AMS’ policy is that diversity of the boards it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
USDA/AMS requires two nominations for each open position. Nominations – including the application and agreement to serve forms – must be submitted by April 24 to ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick at peter@sheepusa.org.
Click Here to learn more and for links to the necessary forms.
No Australian Wool Sales This Week
The Australian Wool Market took a one-week recess this week. Sales will resume next week. With wool continuing to accumulate during the break, Week 42 is expected to be a large sale as there were more than 54,000 bales forecast to be offered nationally as of April 6.
Source: AWEX
Cooking Class Prepares Consumers for Spring Holidays
Spring holidays are traditionally when there is the most demand for American lamb. Easter, Passover and Ramadan are the biggest holidays when lamb is consumed. The American Lamb Board hosted a virtual cooking class to teach American lamb consumers how to roast a leg of lamb for their spring holiday celebrations, but the recipe can be enjoyed anytime of the year.
ALB partnered with Chicago-based, Muslim food blogger Heifa Odeh from Fufu’s Kitchen to host the virtual cooking class. Viewers asked questions and got answers on a livestream. Odeh has a Palestinian background, and advocates for health and fitness. She also has dairy and gluten sensitivities, so many of her recipes accommodate those.
“Offering educational opportunities for consumers like this virtual cooking class not only helps us reach those who favor American lamb,” said ALB Chairman Peter Camino, “it supports our strategic plan efforts to increase demand 5 percent by 2028.”
The Slow Roast Leg of Lamb recipe consumers learned to make is packed with flavor from a dry rub and a wet marinade.
The virtual cooking class received rave reviews from participants, and one lucky attendee was selected to win a leg of lamb to try out the recipe.
The virtual cooking class is available for viewing on ALB’s consumer YouTube channel.
Funded through the national American Lamb Checkoff, ALB invests the industry’s valuable resources to foster profitability and create opportunities for all sectors involved in producing American lamb. All segments of the American lamb industry contribute to building the demand for American lamb through mandatory checkoff payments. Unlike other domestic livestock checkoffs, funding is only collected from domestic lamb, not imported lamb. This allows ALB to focus all its efforts on creating demand for American lamb.
Click Here for more information about ALB and American Lamb Checkoff.
Source: ALB
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.
President Biden Vetoes Resolution to Overturn WOTUS
Last week, President Joe Biden vetoed the House and Senate’s Congressional Review Act joint resolution, preserving his administration’s revised definition of the Waters of the U.S.
The president cited the increased uncertainties H.J. Res. 27 would raise and the negative impacts it would have on preserving healthy wetlands as reasons for the veto. While there was bipartisan support for the joint resolution, the margins in both the House and the Senate were shy of a two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
Senate Ag Committee Announces Farm Bill Hearings
Last week, a tentative hearing schedule for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition was announced. These hearings will be the first of the congressional session occurring at the subcommittee level as Congress prepares for the upcoming Farm Bill. The tentative schedule is as follows:
- April 19: Subcommittee on Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics and Research – nutrition focus.
- April 20: Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources – conservation focus.
- April 27: Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade – crop insurance focus.
- May 2: Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade – commodity group focus.
- May 17: Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy – broadband focus.
USDA Invests in Conservation on Grazing Lands
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $12 million for 49 projects for conservation technical assistance for livestock producers and to increase the use of conservation practices on grazing lands.
The funding is provided through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. Selected projects focus on one or more of the following department priorities: addressing local natural resource concerns; using climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices; supporting partnerships through emphasizing equity in advancing the resource needs of underserved communities; and implementing strategies to better understand conservation benefits associated with grazing management systems.
Upcoming Schedule
- Tuesday: Hearing. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry. “A Review of USDA Animal Disease Prevention and Response Efforts.” Link
- Wednesday: Hearing. House Agriculture Committee. “For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from the Honorable Michael Regan, administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.” Link
- Thursday: Hearing. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources. “Conservation in the Farm Bill: Making Conservation Programs Work for Farmers and Ranchers.” Link
USMARC Hiring Sheep Flock Manager
The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., is still seeking a highly motivated, detail oriented individual to provide primary oversight of the daily husbandry and research planning of its sheep flocks. Currently, USMARC has more than 2,000 breeding ewes with genetic backgrounds and management systems reflective of the diversity of American sheep production.
The vacancy will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
Click Here for more information.
Source: USMARC