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.
ASI sends “Dear Colleague” Letter Urging USTR to Request an Investigation into U.S. lamb Meat Imports
As outline in an announcement sent to membership this week, ASI sent out a “Dear Colleague” letter requesting members of Congress to call upon the U.S. Trade Representative to support the U.S. International Trade Commission in initiating a global safeguard investigation case into imports of lamb meat as authorized under Sections 201-202 of the Trade Act of 1974. This is due to the extreme loss that our membership has seen from foreign lamb imports flooding our domestic markets. This bicameral letter is being led by Congressman Doug LaMalfa in the House of Representatives. We urge you to reach out to your local House of Representatives member and request them to support this letter and our initiative. To find your House member, please go here. If you have any issues finding our member, please reach out to our DC policy team, Macey Hammerstrom at [email protected] or Sarah Rosasco at [email protected]. For other questions or information, please reach out to ASI staff.
ASI Did a National Call to Action in October to Include Wool
ASI released a brief on October 3rd outlining record-high input costs, wool market challenges, and ongoing trade impacts. We encourage you to share it with your Congressional offices and request consideration of wool in future agricultural relief.
Click Here to read the full letter.
Trump Administration Announces New $12 billion Farmer Relief Package
On Monday, December 8, President Trump hosted a roundtable featuring various agricultural stakeholders where he and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a $12 billion farm relief package. From the total pot of money, $11 billion will obligated towards row crop producers in the form of one-time payments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program. The remaining $1 billion will be set aside in reserves for commodities not covered under FBA, though details including timelines for those payments are still under development and require additional understanding of market impacts and economic needs.
Payments will be based on reported acreage, payment limits will be set at $155,000 per entity, as updated in the American Relief Act, and adjusted gross income (AGI) eligibility is capped strictly at $900,000. Farmers eligible for FBA can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026, and should be sure their 2025 acreage reporting is up to date by December 19, 2025. Crop insurance linkage is not required for FBA program eligibility. Eligible commodities for FBA include barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame, and sunflower seed. Stakeholders are welcome to reach out to [email protected] with any questions. You can find the official FBA press release here.
DOJ and FTC to Investigate Food Price Fixing
On Saturday, December 6, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) creating task forces within the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate price fixing, anti-competitive practices, and foreign influence in the U.S. food supply chain. The move targets sectors like meat processing, seed, fertilizer, and farm equipment, with authority to pursue criminal cases and recommend new rules. The Administration says the effort is part of a broader push to lower grocery prices, strengthen food security, and combat inflation. For more information, please see the official EO here.
FDA Approves Topical Drug for NWS and Cattle Fever Tick
On Thursday, December 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conditionally approved Exzolt Cattle-CA1, a topical drug to prevent and treat New World screwworm (NWS) larval infestations and cattle fever tick in beef cattle only. Given the seriousness of the NWS threat, Exzolt Cattle-CA1 received expedited review through a priority zoonotic animal drug (PZAD) designation. This announcement comes as concern is growing about NWS and cattle fever tick infestations. The press release can be found here.
Celebrate American Wool This Holiday Season
The American Wool Council (AWC) is marking the 10th annual American Wool Holiday Gift Guide with its “Made to Be Meaningful” campaign, designed to showcase the value, performance, and sustainability of American-grown wool.
This year’s guide features 15 modern, stylish products including some new brands like Ebbets, Devium, and Heatstrap, proving wool isn’t just for sweaters – it’s functional, design-forward, and built to last. Gift guides remain a powerful tool: 81% of shoppers use them to discover new brands, and shoppable guides boost purchase intent by up to 48%.
AWC is reaching consumers through multiple channels:
- Direct Mail: Three postcards sent to 10,000 targeted consumer households highlight the people, products, and sustainability behind American wool. Print campaigns generate up to 9x higher response rates than email.
- Digital Outreach: Paid and organic social posts, plus display ads placed across major lifestyle, outdoor, home décor and sustainability websites, are expanding wool’s reach beyond AWC’s 70,000+ followers. Campaigns combining print and social increasing brand lift by 66%.
Together, these efforts raise awareness of American wool, spotlight natural fibers, build long-term demand, and strengthen ties with wool brands nationwide.
Shop the guide and celebrate wool that’s truly Made to Be Meaningful: https://www.americanwool.org/2025giftguide/
ASI Research Update Podcast — Now on Spotify!
The ASI Research Update Podcast features industry experts sharing relevant sheep production practices and the latest research, giving American sheep producers convenient access to valuable information on management, production and research topics that can benefit their operations.
Listen now on Spotify!
Mexico Approves Tariffs of Up to 50% on Imports from China
Mexico’s Congress has approved legislation allowing tariffs of up to 50% on imports from countries without a trade agreement, including China. Mexico’s President Sheinbaum is expected to sign the measure, with new duties scheduled to take effect January 1, 2026, for one year. The tariffs will apply to a wide range of products — including textiles, apparel, automotive parts, furniture, plastics, steel, and aluminum — as Mexico aligns more closely with U.S. trade pressure on China. China is currently Mexico’s second-largest exporter, sending $130 billion in goods last year.
Australian Wool Market
A positive week for the wool market with most of the MPG’s showing improvement, all three selling centres operating on Tuesday & Wednesday, the general market steadily rose each
day. The national offer was catalogued with an increased offer of over 40,000 bales, which has only happened a handful of times so far this season. Pre-auction on Tuesday the market sentiment was generally positive, and the end sale result saw rises in the majority of both merino and crossbred MPG’s, merino’s generally 20 to 30c higher while most crossbreds rose a more modest 10 to 20c. The end result saw the EMI up 12c to 1533, day 2 saw rises again but at a more modest rate than the day before, the EMI up 9c for the day and finishing at 1542, up 21c for the week and 402c or 35.3% higher than the same week last season. In USc terms the EMI
is now sitting at 1023, up 23c for the week and sitting some 296c or 40.6% higher when compared to the same time last season. In Australian dollar terms the increase in the overall
market has seen total sales of wool go over 1 billion dollars ($1,033 Million), an additional $152 Million dollars gross more than at the same time last season. Season to date the total
offering is sitting at 4.3% less than the same period last year, while AWTA testing volumes which were down 14.4% for November, are season to date running at 10.4% less, the
worst performing state being South Australia which is down 15.4% and has experienced some of the worst drought conditions of any part of Australia during the last 12 month growing period. A potential record price seasonal price of 49,000 cents was bid for a line of 12.5 micron fleece, the lot was passed in at auction.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Chart – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: Awax
StarChefs Partnership & Rising Stars Program: Strengthening Demand for American Lamb Through Culinary Leadership
The American Lamb Board has partnered with StarChefs, a leading authority in professional culinary innovation, for a year-long partnership designed to place American Lamb at the forefront of the nation’s culinary scene. Through this collaboration, up-and-coming culinary talent will gain direct access to American Lamb, inspiring creative menu development and increasing the protein’s prominence at top restaurants.
With a network of more than 1,600 alumni, the Rising Stars community is one of the most influential chef networks in the United States, making it an ideal platform to introduce and showcase American Lamb.
About the Rising Stars Awards
StarChefs’ annual Rising Stars Awards recognize exceptional up-and-coming chefs across five major markets. Honorees are celebrated for their creativity, leadership, and dedication to their communities—qualities that often lead them into national prominence.
The 2025 Rising Star markets are have already been a focus for American Lamb promotions and include:
- New York • Miami • Rust Belt (Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh) • Houston • Seattle
Chefs Drive Consumer Preferences
ALB has sought out ongoing partnerships with chefs because they are key drivers of consumer preferences. When rising culinary leaders innovate with American Lamb, they increase both awareness and demand. This partnership aims to increase the number of diners seeking lamb while elevating lamb as a signature protein.
“We’ve seen tremendous success in the past when partnering with chefs to promote American Lamb, and we are thrilled to work with StarChefs to introduce up-and-coming chefs to American Lamb as a unique and flavorful protein option for recipes and menus,” says ALB Chairman Jeff Ebert.
By partnering with StarChefs, the American Lamb Board ensures that American Lamb remains top-of-mind for the chefs shaping the future of American dining, solidifying its role as a premium ingredient on menus across the country.
American Lamb Featured at Honoree Dinner
The final Rising Stars honoree dinner of the year takes place this week in Seattle, celebrating the city’s emerging culinary talent. As part of Rising Stars Restaurant Week, Café Suliman’s Chef Ahmed Suliman is featuring his Whey-Braised American Lamb Shoulder with Hummus, Sumac, Toasted Almonds, Mint, Olive Oil, and Flatbread. This standout dish highlights the versatility and richness of American Lamb.
Key Program Highlights • Honorees Mentor Dinner: An intimate kickoff event connecting chefs, mentors, and alumni, positioning American Lamb as a premium, chef-driven ingredient.
- Rising Stars Restaurant Week: A 15-day citywide promotion featuring honorees’ signature dishes, including specially highlighted American Lamb entrées served to thousands of diners.
- Industry Late Night: A celebratory gathering for local restaurant professionals, creating another key touchpoint for American Lamb in the culinary community.
- Rising Stars Magazine: A national print publication spotlighting trends, techniques, and chef insights, featuring American Lamb in a signature recipe in every issue.Source: ALB