Help Shape Better Fly Control Tools
A consulting firm representing a company developing a new, low-cost fly control product is seeking input from sheep producers. Their technology attracts both filth and blood-sucking flies and delivers a toxicant through consumption, with early lab and field trials showing 90%+ stable fly mortality within two days. The short (≈10 minute) survey asks about fly pressure on your operation, what you currently use for control, and what you’d want in next-generation solutions.
Documentary Spotlights Farms, Fiber, and Fashion
Farm to Fashion is a short documentary (23 minutes) featuring Isabella Rossellini, alongside Donna Karan and Mimi Prober, that follows the journey from upstate New York farms to fashion, spotlighting a shifting system that reconnects land, craft, and clothing in an era of overconsumption. It’s premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday, June 13.
Proposed H-2A Expansion Draft Circulating
House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) is circulating a draft proposal to expand the H-2A farm labor program, aiming to make it easier for employers to hire foreign agricultural workers amid ongoing labor shortages. Key ideas in the draft include redefining “temporary” work to cover contracts under 350 days (potentially opening access for more year-round operations), adjusting how the Adverse Effect Wage Rate is set and limited year-to-year, and changes to recruitment/returning-worker requirements and oversight (including shifting petition authority to DHS).
Idaho Wool Growers Association Hiring for New Executive Director
The Idaho Wool Growers Association (IWGA) is seeking an Executive Director to lead events, programming, membership, and communications. IWGA’s Board has appointed a hiring committee and released an RFP, and they’re asking industry partners to help spread the word. If you know a strong, self-motivated leader who would be a great fit for Idaho’s sheep industry, please share this opportunity with your network.
Boozman Eyeing Farm Bill Activity in June
Last week, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held a closed-door, bipartisan meeting amongst members to discuss the Senate’s version of the farm bill. It was reported from the meeting that Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) intends to release draft text in early June and follow up with a markup later in the month. The Chairman acknowledged the Committee’s concerns related to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) provision that requires states to pay a percentage of the costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) depending on the state’s payment error rate. After the meeting, Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was quoted by the Hagstrom Report stating the meeting was constructive and, “members on both sides of the aisle raised their priorities for a bipartisan farm bill, including addressing the SNAP cost shift.” It was also reported that the current base text excludes provisions related to state pesticide preemption and overturning California’s Proposition 12. Additional details on the majority’s expected release of farm bill text are anticipated after the Senate returns from the Memorial Day recess during the week of June 1.
American Lamb Board Update
American Lamb Board showcased American lamb on national TV ahead of Memorial Day via a Satellite Media Tour. Chef and pitmaster Matt Abdoo shared easy ideas for lamb burgers, kabobs, and chops. The tour included 24 interviews reaching 11+ million viewers, with additional segments still airing online and on local stations.
Learn more about ALB here.
Wool Prices Hit Highest Level in 7 Years
The EMI recorded increases across all microns this week and is now at its
highest point since the 9th of May 2019.
About the EMI: The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) is the key benchmark index of Australian wool auction prices and is widely used as a global wool market indicator.