Editor’s Note: Due to the Independence Day holiday, the American Sheep Industry Association office will be closed on July 4, and there will be no ASI Weekly next week.
ASI Supports Pro-Agriculture Tax Package
In a June 25 letter addressed to Senate leaders, the coalition praised key provisions in the legislation, including:
- Estate Tax Reform – The proposed $15 million exemption per individual – indexed for inflation and made permanent – would ease the financial burden on family farms transitioning to the next generation.
- Permanent 199A Deduction – Making the Section 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction permanent ensures that small agricultural producers can continue competing fairly with larger corporations.
- Preserving Lower Tax Rates – Keeping reduced individual tax rates and expanded tax brackets in place gives producers more flexibility to reinvest in their operations.
- Enhanced Expensing Options – Raising the Section 179 limit from $1 million to $2.5 million and restoring 100% bonus depreciation allows ag producers to make critical equipment and technology investments.
“These provisions are essential to strengthening the agricultural supply chain and supporting rural communities,” the letter states. “We greatly appreciate your leadership and commitment to ensuring farmers and ranchers can thrive.”
ASI joined a broad coalition of national organizations representing livestock, crop, dairy, forestry and agribusiness sectors in signing the letter. The groups are calling on the Senate to pass the package as part of the budget reconciliation process — without delay.
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.
House Appropriations Committee finishings FY26 Markup
On Monday, June 23, the full House Appropriations Committee convened to mark up the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. The markup process took place over two sessions, beginning on June 11, pausing partway through, and resuming before concluding on June 23. The bill provides a discretionary total of $25.523 billion, $1.163 billion (4.2%) below the FY25 enacted level. During both sessions, members engaged in partisan debates over funding levels for rural infrastructure, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant, and Children (WIC), and the foreign influence on agricultural production within the U.S. Republicans supported efforts for the federal government to assume more fiscally responsibility while simultaneously supporting rural communities access to broadband, water infrastructure, and affordable housing. Democrats criticized the spending cuts arguing that the proposed cuts to rural infrastructure will harm farmers, vulnerable communities, subside development. Ultimately, the Committee reported the bill favorably to the House floor on a party-line vote 35-27.
National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Announces Requests for Proposals
On 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].
Source: NSIIC
Texas Launches New World Screwworm Response Team
Texas is taking swift action to defend its livestock and wildlife from the threat of the New World screwworm—a dangerous flesh-eating parasite that has resurfaced in parts of North and Central America.
On June 25, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to form a dedicated Response Team to monitor, detect, and respond to potential outbreaks. This elite team will serve as the front line in protecting Texas’s $24 billion livestock industry and its vital wildlife populations.
The New World screwworm, eradicated from the U.S. decades ago, has recently reappeared in Mexico and South America. To prepare for the possibility of its spread into Texas, the team has already begun training, collaborating with federal partners, and launching public awareness campaigns.
“Texas is committed to proactive, science-based action to protect our ranchers, producers, and ecosystems,” said TAHC Executive Director Dr. Lewis “Bud” Dinges.
The USDA is also stepping up, investing $8.5 million in a sterile-fly dispersal facility in South Texas and planning to release up to 300 million sterile flies per week by the end of the year to disrupt the parasite’s reproduction cycle.
This united front aims to prevent full-scale re-infestation and preserve animal health across Texas and beyond.
Source: Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
USDA rescinds Clinton-era ‘Roadless Rule’ protecting forests
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced last week that the USDA is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, which had prohibited road construction and timber harvesting on nearly 60 million acres of national forest lands. The rollback aims to give local forest managers more flexibility for wildfire prevention, timber production, and rural development.
The decision drew support from several Western governors who praised the move as a return to more practical land management. However, conservation groups raised concerns about potential impacts on wildlife habitat, water quality, and long-term forest health.
The rule change will not affect state-specific protections in places like Colorado and Idaho, where separate roadless agreements remain in place.
Click Here to read the full article.
Source: Western Livestock Journal
LambJam 2025 Ignites Culinary Excitement in San Francisco
The San Francisco stops on the 2025 Lamb Jam Tour turned out to be a sensational, sold-out event dedicated to the delights of American Lamb! Held on June 18th at The Midway, this gathering brought together 200 enthusiastic lamb lovers for an evening filled with bold flavors, culinary artistry, and unforgettable experiences.
Guests indulged in seven chef-curated lamb bites from top culinary talent, showcasing the richness of American Lamb. The lively atmosphere featured live DJ music, a caricature artist, a fun photo booth, and a custom spice bar for creating signature blends. Attendees enjoyed craft cocktails, local brews, and pours from a local Vineyard, making it a vibrant and delicious event!
Local producer and ASI’s Vice President Joe Pozzi mingled with guests and chefs to spread the word about sourcing his lamb at local Whole Foods stores.
“This event built on the recent Lamb Jam tour stops, and set the stage for upcoming events,” says ALB Chairman Jeff Ebert. “Lamb Jam continues to be a fan favorite and is a great way to introduce more people to delicious American Lamb dishes.”
The competition celebrated incredible culinary creativity, culminating in a thrilling showdown among talented chefs. The event attracted enthusiastic food lovers who eagerly sampled each dish, cheering for their favorites and participating in the voting process.
Jason Halverson, chef and founder of Hi Neighbor Restaurant Group, took home the top prize with his Lamb & Truffle Sausage, followed by Piglet & Co’s second place offering of Lamb Fried Rice Croquette and Abacá’s third-place Lamb Inasal Skewers.
San Francisco’s event built on the momentum from previous Lamb Jam events, showcasing the excitement and passion surrounding American Lamb. The tour now heads to Seattle, Denver, and Boston!
Source: ALB
Wool Season Ends Steady, EMI Unchanged
The Australian wool market has held the final sale of the 2024/25 Wool Selling Season, the market finished much the way it has behaved all season, recording very little change, in this case, an unchanged benchmark Eastern Market Indicator (EMI). Another common thread has been the large impact of currency fluctuations, minimal movement in the Australian dollar (AUD) meant little influence of the market, the EMI gained 1 US cents for the series. Fremantle returned to the program, pushing the offering up to 29,848 bales. Now the season has concluded we can accurately compare quantities. This season there was 1,565,809 bales offered, this was 261,100 fewer bales or 14.3% less than the previous season. The EMI opened the season (July 2024) on 1,142 cents. The EMI has since gained 65 cents, closing at 1,207 cents. A seasonal increase of 5.7%. In USD terms the EMI opened at 773 cents and is now 784 cents, an increase of 11 cents, a rise of just 1.4%. To view the performance of micron pockets we can analyze the individual Micron Price Guides (MPGs) in the South. The strongest performer for the season (in percentage terms) was the 28.0 MPG, rising by 71 cents, or 18.1%. The best of the merinos was the 21.0 MPG which added 108 cents, an increase of 8.3%. The reduction in the national offering had a direct impact on the total dollar amount sold for the season. The market value of the wool put through the auction system for the season was $1,940 million, this was $298 million lower than the previous season, a fall of 13.3%. This fall corresponds with the fall in total bales offered. Next week the season starts afresh. The first sale of the season falls into the new financial year, sellers waiting for this opportunity, help to bolster the national offering to 30,351 bales.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Chart – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: AWEX