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HOW IT BEGAN

The year was 1865. Abraham Lincoln was

president, the Civil War was ending and

neither the automobile nor the telephone had been

invented. This was the year the National Wool

Growers Association was formed, making it the first

national livestock trade group in the United States.

It was this association that provided the roots for

today’s national industry

organization: the American

Sheep Industry Association.

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Texas — 10,674

Arizona — 7,447

California4,224

Pennsylvania3,590

Ohio3,568

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ASI

States with the most sheep operations (2012 data)

is a federation of 45 state sheep

associations representing the interests

of more than 88,000 farm and ranch families

nationwide with a common goal to promote the

well-being and profitability of the U.S. sheep

industry. From East to West, pasture-based flocks

to range operations, ASI works to represent the

interests of all producers. A team of volunteer

producer leaders directs the actions of the

association.

States with the highest number of sheep and lambs

(2016 data)

Texas735,000

1

California575,000

2

Colorado435,000

3

Wyoming355,000

4

Utah285,000

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WHO WE ARE

prides itself on its

commitment to educate

and inform. From the traditional Sheep

Industry News to the use of social media,

sheep producers can stay current on

policy, trends, markets and much more.

ASI

Sheep Industry NewsMonthly magazine highlighting producer features, advertising and lamb and wool market information.

www.sheepusa.orgWebsite offering a one-stop source of online resources.

ASI Weekly A newsletter devoted to timely dissemination of sheep industry topics.

PRODUCER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

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Social Media Accounts➤ Facebook (SheepUSA)➤ Twitter (@SheepUSA)➤ Instagram (SheepUSA)

Annual Sheep ConventionNational meeting bringing every facet of the industry together to educate and inform. All primary customers join producers from across the nation to discuss trends, market situations and the latest technology.

Online EducationFree coursework that producers can access at their convenience – A Producer’s Guide to Scrapie, LRP-Lamb Education and Sheep Safety and Quality Assurance Program.

Sheep Production HandbookProudly serves as the primary reference book for sheep producers and animal science students across the country.ASI Market App

Mobile application providing lamb and wool market information, a breakeven and gestation calculator and a wool description and pricing tool.

he heart and soul of ASI are

the thousands of farm and

ranch families across America who

raise sheep, as are the hundreds of

individuals who volunteer a portion of

their time, energy and financial support

to work on behalf of the industry. ASI

utilizes councils to implement the

industry’s policies and programs.

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ASI’s Wool Council works to improve the quality of wool produced in the United States and to promote the usage of American wool – both in domestic and international markets. “ASI is focused on the continual quality improvement of the wool being produced in the United States to increase the value of this commodity to the producer and to keep it competitive in the world market. Creating new processes to keep wool and wool-blend fabrics as a staple in military uniforms is also a key objective of the American Wool Council.”– Ken Wixom (Idaho), American Wool Council Chair

The Legislative Action Council champions sheep producers’ causes in the nation’s Capital to ensure that key programs are funded or maintained, and that key pieces of legislation are passed to ensure the continued health and profitability of the U.S. sheep industry. “The way in which some land management agencies are controlling the interaction of bighorn and domestic sheep is one of the most significant threats to the long-term viability of the sheep industry, both in the western United States and nationally. Congressional guidance is necessary to resolve this issue using good sound science and by working side-by-side with land managers to get a result everyone can trust.”–Jim Richards, Cornerstone Government Affairs

ASI COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES

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Land, water, predators and other environmental issues are extremely important to U.S. sheep producers. That’s why ASI’s Resource Management Council works to see that the interests of sheep producers are considered in land-use regulations and wildlife management. “ASI continues to be on the frontline in supporting the critical programs of the Wildlife Services Agency to protect our flocks from predator depredation.”– John Baucus (Mont.), Predator Management Committee Co-Chair

The efforts of the Production, Education and Research Council work to prevent and control animal diseases affecting the sheep industry, promote genetic improvement, affect the direction of research and education and enhance product quality for consumers. “Quality lamb and wool starts with the farmers and ranchers who raise the sheep. Our producers care deeply about animal welfare and take great pride in the care they provide for their animals.”– Gary Visintainer, DVM (Colo.), Production, Education and Research Council Chair

The American Lamb Council coordinates key policies and projects to support lamb production and marketing to oversee lamb grading, meat safety, product quality and market reporting. “Mandatory price reporting is an extremely valuable tool for the sheep industry. We have invested four years in working to design a program that will be the most useful for the industry and will continue to be active throughout its reauthorization in 2020.”– W. Keith Stumbo (N.Y.), Lamb Council Chair

uality lamb and wool starts with the producers

who raise the sheep. Our producers show great

compassion for and care deeply about the welfare

of their flocks. Progressive methods of animal care

and land management are practiced to protect and

improve the health of their animals and the land.

QANIMAL CARE

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The sheep industry is an important economic

component in our country. A 2011 economic

impact study showed that the sheep industry has

a total economic effect of $2.7 billion annually. For

every $1 of lamb products produced, $5.34 in extra

spending in the economy is generated. Furthermore,

the study revealed

that for every 25

sheep-industry jobs,

36 additional jobs are

made available as a

result of increased

consumer spending.

STRENGTHENING THE U.S. SHEEP INDUSTRY AND THE ECONOMY

➤ Advocated for the reopening of important export markets. Taiwan opened in June of 2016 and Japan is expected to also become available.

➤ Increased the demand for American wool by facilitating the reintroduction of the equipment that allows wool products to be machine washed and dried without shrinking.

➤ Continually familiarized international buyers to the benefits of U.S. wool, resulting in the export of more than 50 percent of the annual wool clip.

➤ Worked in partnership with the No. 1 customer of American wool – the U.S. military – on product development and marketing.

➤ Funded the Let’s Grow Program to ensure the sheep business remains viable for future producers by utilizing a strategy of innovative and sustainable initiatives that increase the productivity, profitability and growth of the American sheep industry.

➤ Forged a formal collaboration with the National Lamb Feeders Association and ASI Women.

n behalf of its membership, ASI

continually works to improve the

sheep industry. Areas where ASI has

shaped outcomes include:

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WHAT HAS ASI DONE FOR YOU?

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➤ Secured the Scrapie Eradication Program – the most aggressive eradication program in the world – designed to eliminate a disease that seriously impedes the U.S. sheep industry’s global competitiveness.

➤ Advanced Livestock Risk Protection-Lamb for producers to insure against unexpected declines in market prices.

➤ Spearheaded the drive to continue the funding of the critical programs administered by Wildlife Services to protect livestock from wasteful death and injury caused by predators.

➤ Instrumental in the formation of three industry-advocate organizations – the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, the National Sheep Improvement Program and the American Lamb Board.

➤ Secured mandatory country-of-origin labeling of lamb at retail. Lamb is the only red meat that retained COOL, giving consumers the ability to choose the origin of their meat.

➤ Obligated matching funds for the development of sheep-labeled pharmaceuticals.

➤ Championed the continuation of Mandatory Price Reporting for lamb to provide market transparency for producers nationwide.

➤ Nearly 50 years of continuous publication of the Sheep Production Handbook – the primary reference book on sheep production.

➤ Led the collaborative effort to develop the Sheep Safety and Quality Assurance program for producers to implement and document their commitment to growing and marketing safe, high-quality products.

➤ Generous voluntary producer and trade contributions to the Guard Dog Fund to protect the sheep business from legal and regulatory attacks.

➤ Secured a separate lobbying contract to protect the industry against the loss of grazing on public lands due to the perceived threat of disease transfer from domestic to bighorn sheep.

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“We have maintained the producer focus of the

association and in doing so, became one of the

leading advocates in agriculture for farm and ranch

families wanting to build a stronger future for the

sheep industry – a profitable opportunity for a son

or daughter on the ranch or farm.”

– Burton Pfliger (N.D.), ASI Officer