ASGA Webinar to Discuss Targeted Grazing Handbook
This month’s American Solar Grazing Association Call is open to the public and will explore the wider targeted grazing world by introducing the American Sheep Industry Association’s new handbook – Targeted Grazing 101: Starting and Sustaining a Grazing Service. The webinar is scheduled for 6 p.m. eastern time on Monday.
The handbook teaches practical, applied skills gathered from interviews with more than three dozen experienced targeted grazers to help aspiring grazers understand what it takes to thrive in the industry.
Dr. John Walker – emeritus professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension – and ASI’s Erica Sanko will offer a presentation on the handbook. After their presentation, participants will hear from ASGA board members Jonathan Barter and Ryan Indart about how targeted grazing is similar and applicable to solar grazing. They will share their perceptions on the unique challenges that operating sheep on solar sites presents, including some of the particularities of serving solar companies and managing vegetation around solar arrays.
ASGA had the opportunity to support the solar grazing aspects of this handbook as part of the publication review team. ASGA President Lexie Hain of Lightsource bp provided her expertise to the publication. JR Howard of the ASGA Advisory Board and Indart provided case studies to the project, and a number of ASGA members contributed to the handbook.
Click Here to order the book.
Click Here to register for the webinar.
Source: ASGA
Protect Nature from Fast Fashion
The European Union is deciding how to measure fashion’s environmental impact. But right now, its method ignores microplastic pollution and the benefits of natural fibers such as wool. As a proud funding member of Make the Label Count, the American Sheep Industry Association’s American Wool Council stands with global voices calling for science-backed standards.
Use your voice. Sign the Protect Nature from Fast Fashion petition and help ensure natural fibers like wool get a fair shot.
Click Here to sign the petition.
Click Here for more information.
Prepare Now for Lamb Marketing Events
Summer is the perfect time to introduce consumers to the taste of American lamb. Those new farmers market shoppers might just be waiting to become big fans.
Sunshine, fresh air and a ready grill waiting at home inspire consumers to try new things. But consumers need help learning to prepare new dishes at home. The American Lamb Board has an answer as the ALB website offers a variety of educational materials, which include recipes, cooking tips and nutritional information.
- Eating with the Seasons introduces new seasonal flavors from the fresh produce and light tastes of spring and summer to the cozy comfort foods of fall and winter.
- Outdoor Cooking Adventures is perfect for summer grill inspiration, whether for a camping trip, tailgate party or backyard BBQ.
- Adventurous Global Flavors provides eight globally inspired recipes that highlight American lamb’s versatility and variety of flavor profiles.
- New Nutritious Meets Delicious focuses on American lamb as the perfect choice for today’s healthy lifestyles and light summer eating.
- American Lamb Cuts 101 features cut education, cooking methods and recipes.
- Wine & Lamb offers five unique American lamb recipes with wine pairings.
- Cooking Time & Temp Infographic.
You can get 25 copies of each brochure for free as part of the Lamb Checkoff program. Larger quantities are available by contacting ALB. The brochures are also available to local groups for markets and fairs, which is a great way to spur interest in American lamb.
Up to 100 copies of Home Grown Flavor are available, also at no cost. It’s an all-in-one piece with recipes, cooking recommendations and nutrition information perfect for returning, new or wannabe customers.
“These resources are available to help promote American lamb at your local events,” said ALB Chairman Jeff Ebert. “It’s a great way to deliver professional pieces packed with useful information to entice consumers in your local market to try American lamb this summer.”
The American Lamb Checkoff makes these materials available through the mandatory Lamb Checkoff Program. The American Lamb Checkoff was initiated in 2002 to pool industry resources to build awareness, expand demand, and improve industry profitability. Checkoff funds are used to promote American lamb, conduct research and provide information to producers.
So, order brochures, set up your booths and enjoy introducing consumers to American lamb.
Source: ALB
NDSU, UM Offer Agrivoltaics Webinar
Sheep producers will share their firsthand experiences with grazing sheep under solar panels at the new agrivoltaics webinar series hosted by North Dakota State University Extension and University of Minnesota Extension at 7 p.m. central time on May 20. Panelists will address logistics, animal husbandry and business management skills needed to successfully graze solar sites for vegetation management.
“Grazing sheep underneath solar panels is an innovative way to keep solar site land in agriculture production. Grazing ruminants are essential to functioning grassland ecosystems,” said Sabrina Florentino, UMN Extension alternative livestock systems educator. “Our webinars will feature both producer experiences and emerging research.”
Guest speakers will discuss how the innovative practice of agrivoltaics impacts their operations, as well as the environmental benefits, the economic considerations and the practical challenges faced in managing livestock alongside renewable energy infrastructure.
“Our sheep and goat producers have an amazing future opportunity with grazing under solar farms,” said Travis Hoffman, NDSU and UMN Extension sheep specialist. “Increased solar grazing and small ruminant production is changing across the United States, and you can hear our panelists provide valuable insights into both the benefits and challenges they have encountered.”
Sheep solar grazing producer panelists include Jodee Nohner, the grazing coordinator for Minnesota Native Landscapes. Nohner brings a rich heritage of agricultural expertise as a fifth-generation sheep farmer. For the past two years, Nohner has been a key team member in the grazing division at MNL, a progressive operation managing 1,500 hair sheep for solar grazing and restoration projects.
Panelist Olivia Halbur is the fourth generation to farm on her husband’s family farm in Fond du Lac, Wis. They recently leased 30 acres of their farm for five megawatts of solar energy production so that her family could still farm those acres by grazing the sheep. Halbur manages the vegetation with Texel sheep grazing under the solar panels.
Evan Gunthorp and his parents own Traditional Grazing Solutions, a company based in LaGrange, Ind. The company offers comprehensive vegetation management with mechanical mowing to supplement their focus on grazing. Currently, Traditional Grazing manages and owns 900 ewes grazing on 900 acres of solar land.
Preregistration is required. Register at ndsu.ag/sheepsolargraz. The Zoom link will be emailed immediately after registration, and registrants will receive the webinar recording afterward.
Source: NDSU Extension
U.S., Mexico Reach Screwworm Agreement
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced this week that Mexico has committed to eliminate restrictions on U.S. Department of Agriculture aircraft and waive customs duties on eradication equipment aiding in response to the spread of New World Screwworm.
Due to this agreement, the ports will remain open to livestock imports. However, if at any time these terms are not upheld, port closure will be revisited. This agreement follows Sec. Rollins’ letter to Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegue Sacristan on Saturday pushing for a resolution of the restrictions.
“I am happy to share Mexico has continued to partner in emergency efforts to eradicate the New World Screwworm. This pest is a devastating threat to both of our economies, and I am pleased to work together with Mexico in good faith to protect the livelihoods of our ranchers and producers who would have been hurt by this pest,” said Sec. Rollins. “At USDA, we are working every day to keep pests and disease from harming our agricultural industry. I thank our frontline USDA staff and their counterparts in Mexico for their work to ensure the screwworm does not harm our livestock industry.”
New World Screwworm is a deadly parasitic fly that infests warm-blooded animals, causing severe wounds and complications that can lead to death.
Source: USDA
Sheep for Profit School Set for July
Producers of all levels are invited to attend the Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program’s Sheep for Profit School on July 9-12 in Pipestone, Minn.
The Sheep for Profit School is a professional management and business school. The school will improve sheep management skills, increase profitability and foster relationships. Combining lectures, group discussions and visits to outstanding Pipestone area sheep operations, the school is intense. Program leaders include expert instructors with diverse and practical sheep experience, a veterinarian who enjoys sharing sheep health knowledge, and the owners of the toured farms. Together, they will help define your vision and build a practical plan to achieve goals.
The program is conducted at Minnesota West Community & Technical College – Pipestone Campus. The cost is $595 per student, which includes tuition, handouts, meals and refreshments.
Click Here for more information.
Source: Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program
Australian Wool Market Declines after Holiday
The Australian wool market returned from the annual one-week Easter recess to another overall loss in this series. There were 40,295 bales available to the trade – 1,919 bales less than the previous series. The bulk of the losses were experienced on the opening day.
Across the country, the individual Micron Price Guide movements for Merino fleece ranged between unchanged and negative 25 cents. The other sectors recorded small overall losses. The benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator lost 14 cents for the day.
On the second day, the market again recorded an overall loss, although there were pockets of positive movements within sectors and within the MPGs. Of note was the 19-micron MPG, which recorded increases of between 11 and 15 cents in Sydney and Fremantle on the back of noticeably increased competition for those lots.
The EMI fell by a further 8 cents, closing the week 22 cents lower at 1,210 Australian cents. The EMI has now fallen across the last five selling days, losing a total of 54 cents in these sales. The last time the EMI fell by more than this across five selling days was back in June 2023, when the EMI dropped 80 cents across five selling days.
Again, currency played its usual role in the market. A strengthening of the Australian dollar compared to the U.S. dollar since the close of the previous series meant that when viewed in U.S. dollar terms the market news was more positive. The EMI lost just 7 U.S. cents for the series.
Shearing has been completed for the season in many parts of Australia and in selected areas yearly cropping programs have begun. This has contributed to a reduction in the national quantity for next week. There are expected to be 31,546 bales on offer in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Chart – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: AWEX
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.
Trump Names Hoelscher Chief Ag Negotiator
Late last week, it was reported that President Donald Trump plans to nominate Doug Hoelscher as chief agriculture negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Hoelscher most recently served as chair for the American Leadership Initiative within the American First Policy Institute, the Trump-aligned think tank that was founded by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. In addition to his role at AFPI, he is an Iowa native and served in both the George W. Bush and first Trump administrations in various political roles.
Administration Weighing Fixes for H-2A
Last week, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that she plans to work with Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and the White House to reform the current H-2A visa program.
This comes in the wake of recent action by the administration to reform United States’ immigration policy, which has raised concerns over the possibility of creating labor shortages in the ag industry as it relies heavily on migrant workers.
However, President Trump has recently discussed the possibility of a pathway to legal status for farm workers through a “legal process.” Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture also explained that improving the H-2A and H-2B visa programs would support farmers, ranchers and immigrants seeking citizenship.
Many congressional leaders, such as House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) have come out in support of this initiative. Jordan stated that the border must be efficiently strengthened before visa reforms are brought to Congress.