ASI Award Nominations Due Nov. 19
Once again, it’s time to submit nominations for ASI Awards, which will be presented during the 2022 ASI Annual Convention on Jan. 19-22, 2022, in San Diego, Calif. The deadline for all award nominations is Nov. 19.
There are five awards open for nominations: The McClure Silver Ram Award, the Camptender Award, the Distinguished Producer Award, the Industry Innovation Award and the Shepherd’s Voice Award.
The McClure Silver Ram Award is dedicated to volunteer commitment and service and is presented to a sheep producer who has made substantial contributions to the sheep industry and its organizations in his/her state, region or nation. The award may recognize a lifetime of achievement or may recognize a noteworthy, shorter-term commitment and service to the industry.
The Camptender Award recognizes industry contributions from a professional in a position or field related to sheep production. Nominees should show a strong commitment and a significant contribution to the sheep industry, its organizations and its producers above and beyond what is called for in his/her professional capacity. Nominees should be well respected in their fields by their peers and by sheep producers.
The Distinguished Producer Award was launched in 2014 to recognize the 150th anniversary of the national organization – the oldest livestock association in the country. This award is a way to recognize an individual who has had a significant long-term impact on the industry, including involvement with the National Wool Growers Association or American Sheep Producers Council, the predecessor groups to ASI.
The Industry Innovation Award recognizes the accomplishments of an individual or organization that improves the American sheep industry in a game-changing way, regardless of whether its impact is felt at the regional or national level.
The Shepherd’s Voice Award for Media recognizes outstanding year-long coverage of the sheep industry by either print or broadcast outlets. The award excludes all publications and affiliates related solely to the sheep industry, allowing for recognition of outlets with general coverage for excellence in covering sheep industry issues.
Nominations must be submitted to ASI by Nov. 19, and past recipients of these awards are not eligible. To receive an application, call 303-771-3500 or email info@sheepusa.org.
Click Here for the nomination form.
Schools, ASI Materials Available for Prospective Shearers
A number of shearing schools are now open for registration with start dates ranging from this fall to spring of 2022. Consult the calendar in this newsletter for dates and registration information.
In anticipation of shearing season, the American Sheep Industry Association has a variety of new and updated materials available for those interested in shearing and wool classing. Materials include:
- Digital Shearing Manual
- Shearing Videos on a USB Flash Drive
- Shearing Pattern Poster
- Updated Code of Practice for Preparation of Wool Clips Manual
- Newly Designed Preparation Steps for a Quality Wool Clip brochure
- New U.S. Sheep Breeds Poster
In addition, the American Wool Council met this week to discuss new programs to address the shortage of shearers in the United States. More details on this program will be available in the coming weeks.
To learn more, contact Heather Pearce at Heather@sheepusa.org.
Sonora Station Gets Historical Marker
A Texas historical marker was placed at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Sonora Station on Oct. 16 to commemorate the station’s valuable contributions to agricultural research in the state.
The Sonora Station – now part of the Texas A&M AgriLife center at San Angelo – has a history that goes back more than 105 years. Since its founding, it has been an integral part of success in the research, development and demonstration of agriculture on the Edwards Plateau. It has been a central gathering place for area ranching families, as well as scientists and students from all around the world.
The idea of a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station was hatched during the inaugural convention of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association in Del Rio, Texas. The association then reached out for support from Texas A&M University and the Texas legislature. The station was in use by 1916, financed in equal parts by the legislature and area ranchers.
Following the station’s 100 year anniversary celebration – held in April 2016 – an endowment fund for the Sonora Research Station was established to raise funds to ensure another 100 years of continuing research.
“For over 100 years, the Texas A&M AgriLife Sonora Station – originally called Substation 14 – has been an invaluable resource for rangeland and livestock research,” said Reid Redden, Ph.D., sheep and goat specialist and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center director. “We are honored to have a historical marker placed at the Sonora center.”
Pavers – which will surround the marker outside the Sonora Station – are available to be sponsored and may be engraved with a family, ranch name or in memoriam.
“The Sonora Endowment committee is leading a project to allow people to honor family members on a paver that hopefully will be around for the next 100 years,” Redden said. “Proceeds will go toward research conducted at the center.”
Commemorative pavers are available in two sizes: 4×8 inches for $100 or 12×12 inches for $250. Order forms are available online. For additional information, contact Phyllis Benge, AgriLife Research senior administrative coordinator at p-benge@tamu.edu or 325-657-7333.
Source: Texas A&M AgriLife
Australian Market Rebounds With Strong Week
The Australian wool market recorded solid overall increases this week on the back of strong demand. Talk amongst the trade early in the week was that the market could be up to 50 cents higher when it opened.
This talk came to fruition from the first hammer of the series. Spirited bidding from a wide range of exporters helped push prices sharply higher. This intense competition was maintained all the way to the final lot in the Western market. By the end of the day, the individual Micron Price Guides in the Merino fleece types had risen by between 37 and 90 cents. These rises – combined with overall gains in the other sectors – helped push the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator up by 50 cents. This was the largest daily rise in the EMI for the 2021-22 selling season and the largest rise since January.
The intensity of the first day could not be sustained into the second, resulting in a more subdued buying approach throughout the final day. Some prices eased slightly as buyers became more cautious with their purchases, while some various microns continued to strengthen. This was reflected in the Merino fleece MPGs across the country, which ranged between -27 and +15 cents for the final day. The EMI lost 4 cents for the day, closing the week at 1,369 Australian cents for an overall gain of 46 cents for the series.
A notable event of the series was a line of 12.1 micron fleece wool which achieved a price of 15,000 greasy c/kg. This was by far the highest price of the current season and the highest price achieved nationally in more than six years. The higher prices achieved this week have enticed more sellers to the market, pushing next week’s national offering to an expected 45,755 bales in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.
Source: AWEX