ASI Accepting Photo Contest Entries

It’s time to start sorting through those great photos you took the past few years and prepare to enter them in the 2023 ASI Photo Contest. Winning entries will be featured in the October issue of the Sheep Industry News.

Rules and prizes for the 2023 contest are the same as last year. Photographs entered in the contest will be judged on clarity, content, composition and appeal. More than $1,000 will be awarded, with prizes of $125 going to the first-place photographer in each of the five categories listed below; $75 for the runner-up in each category; and a $50 prize for third place in each of the five categories.

Entries must be received in the ASI office by 5 p.m. mountain time on Tuesday, Aug. 1, to be considered. Only the top three photographers in each category will be notified of their winnings.

The five categories in this year’s contest are:

1. Shepherd/Shepherdess – Photographs of producers, shepherds or others working with sheep.
2. Scenic (East) – Photographs of sheep outdoors located east of the Mississippi River. Photos entered in this category cannot include people.
3. Scenic (West) – Photographs of sheep outdoors located west of the Mississippi River. Photos entered in this category cannot include people.
4. Working Dogs and Protection Animals – Photographs in this category should show herding dogs, livestock guardian dogs or any other livestock protection animal in their natural environments. Photos must also include sheep in some fashion as proof that these truly are working animals.
5. Open – Photographs with subject matter that does not fall into the four above-listed categories.

Entries should be emailed to Sheep Industry News Editor Kyle Partain at kyle@sheepusa.org with the subject line of ASI Photo Contest. Those mailing entries should send photos to ASI, Attn: Photo Contest, 9785 Maroon Circle, Suite 360, Englewood, CO 80112.

Click Here for full contest rules and information.

 

Positive Signs Emerge Despite Wool Market Drop

While the Australian wool market recorded an overall loss for the third week in a row, the fall was minimal and there were also positive signs late in the series.

There were initially 47,041 bales rostered for sale. After 11.7 percent was withdrawn prior to sale, the national offering was reduced to 40,106 bales. Of this offering, 11.7 percent failed to reach seller reserve, leaving just 35,417 bales making their way into exporters hands.

In the Eastern centers, the prices on offer did not vary greatly from those of the previous series. The movements in the Individual Micron Price Guides in Sydney and Melbourne for Merino fleece all ranged within 20 cents of the previous week. With the crossbred, carding and skirtings sectors also recording minimal change for the week, the movement in the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator was also marginal. The EMI fell by 4 cents for the series, closing at 1,210 Australian cents.

As mentioned earlier, the week finished in a strong fashion. The Western region – which was selling last – had a late upward surge. The Fremantle fleece MPGs added between 19 and 34 cents for the final day and between 26 and 44 cents for the week.

Noteworthy this week, the 1PP committee approved a line of wool from KINGSTON/TASMANIA. To be recognised as 1PP, there are strict criteria to be met and the wool “must exhibit superlative quality, style and soundness and be prepared in the best possible manner.” This was the first 1PP lot in the Southern region since August of 2022.

As this is traditionally a quiet shearing time in the West, quantity dictates that no sale is needed in Fremantle next week. With only Sydney and Melbourne in operation, the national quantity drops. Currently, there are expected to be 36,300 bales on offer.

Click Here for the Full Australian Wool Market Report.

Source: AWEX

 

ALB Focuses on Niche with Kittch Campaign

American shoppers have a wide variety of options at the grocery store. From protein to produce to spices, the world’s pantry is available for the adventurous eater. For those interested in adding new flavors to their weekly meal rotation, a bit of culinary coaching goes a long way. To support these cooking efforts, the American Lamb Board continued its Feed Your Adventurous Side campaign through an integrated partnership with Kittch to showcase the many ways to prepare American lamb.

Kittch is a platform for a new generation of culinary enthusiasts who love to cook. The food-centric live-streaming platform – which launched last year – offers cooking classes, kitchen tours, interviews, market visits and more. Its roster of chefs and foodie personalities offers classes and tutorials through a mix of free and paid content for viewers. The videos are accessed either live or on demand.

The ALB campaign kicked off on May 22 with a free livestreamed demonstration from James Beard Award Winner Chef Caroline Glover of Annette restaurant featuring Salsa Verde Lamb Chops with Rancho Gordo Mayocoba Beans and Charred Scallions.

Eight additional livestreams with various chefs are planned during May, June and July to feature a range of global cuisines from American, Vietnamese, Israeli, Indian and Italian.

View the recent Kittch video’s:

• Grilled Lamb Chops with Fermented Bean Curd Sauce, Yu Choy and Lemon.
• Garlic and Rosemary Grilled Lamb Ribs with Balsamic BBQ Sauce.
• Salsa Verde Lamb Chops with Rancho Gordo Mayocoba, Beans and Charred Scallions.
• Homemade Lamb Sausage & Red Pepper Rigatoni.

“Online cooking demonstrations are a niche for us to really focus on the quality and versatility of American lamb,” said ALB Chairman Peter Camino from Buffalo, Wyo. “This campaign is more than just giving consumers a recipe; it’s about adventuring through taste, making memories around great food, and embracing fun experiences in the kitchen with American lamb and world-class chefs guiding the way.”

Click Here for more information about ALB and the 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.

FDA Opens Application for New MUMS Drugs

On May 26, the Food and Drug Administration opened a grant application period for the approval of new animal drugs intended to treat minor uses in major species (horses, dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, turkeys and chickens) or to treat minor species (MUMS drugs).

FDA will award up to $250,000 per year for up to two years for routine studies or three years for toxicology studies. The application period closes on July 28.

Click Here for the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Debt Limit Bill Gets Congressional Approval

On May 28, the U.S. House released language for H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 to raise the debt limit until January 2025.

It was released following ongoing negotiations between House Republican leadership and the White House. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has most recently estimated the United States could default on its debt by June 5 without action.

Relevant to food and agriculture, the bill rescinds some of the funding provided to the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the American Rescue Plan Act. Regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the bill would expand work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents to individuals aged 18 to 54. Currently, work requirements for ABAWDs only apply to those aged 18 to 49. The bill would exclude veterans, homeless individuals and certain individuals formerly in foster care from SNAP work requirements.

On Wednesday of this week, the bill passed on the House floor in a bipartisan fashion with a 314-117 vote. The Republican led bill had more Democrats vote in favor of passing than the Republicans, with the split being 165 Democrats and only 149 Republicans. On the flip side, 71 Republicans and 46 Democrats voted against H.R. 3746.

The bill then headed to the U.S. Senate, where it passed 63-36 on Thursday evening with 31 Republicans and five Democrats voting against the measure. The bill then headed to President Joe Biden, who was expected to sign it as soon as possible.

 

Pipestone Plans Sheep for Profit School in July

Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 2023 Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program’s Sheep for Profit School, which will be held on July 12-15 in Pipestone, Minn. This will be the 12th course offering with 218 past participants from 24 different states and Canada completing the course.

The Sheep for Profit School is a professional management and business school for the sheep industry. The purpose of the school is to help producers improve sheep management skills; increase the profitability of sheep operations and form relationships in the business. The school will be intense and combine lectures, group discussions and visits to outstanding Pipestone area sheep operations. Expert instructors with diverse and practical sheep experience will help producers define their vision and build a practical plan to achieve goals.

Enrollment in the school is limited to create an ideal learning environment and allow for one-on-one advising.

Click Here to learn more. Producers can also call 800-658-2330 or email Melinda.lamote@mnwest.edu for more information.

 

Sheep is Life Set for June 16-18

The 27^th Annual Sheep is Life Celebration will take place June 16-18 at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Ariz.

Sheep is Life is a Navajo Sheep Camp like setup and gathering for all those who love sheep, wool, fiber arts and the diverse cultures that have maintained these lifeways for thousands of years. Everyone is welcome to attend the event, with no fee. Take your favorite weaving tools, spindles, sheep, wool or artwork to share.

The Navajo-Churro Sheep Association is teaming up with the celebration to put on a spectacular event of fiber arts, sheep care, workshops and presentations that will showcase shepherding and weaving cultures of the world.

Click Here for more information.

 

Oklahoma Hosts Fiber Fest Weekend Retreat

The Fiber Fest Weekend Retreat – scheduled for June 15-17 at Shepherd’s Cross in Claremore, Okla. – offers three days of learning how to process any kind of fiber. Classes will be taught with wool and include washing, dyeing, wet felting, carding, picking, spindling, spinning, needle felting and weaving.

The retreat fee is $249 for the weekend or $89 for a single day. The retreat is augmented with hands-on learning tools available in the Educational Farm Museum and with a collection of fiber arts from around the world.

Click Here for more information.