American Sheep Convention Wrap Up

American Sheep Industry’s Convention Wrap-up

I’m KayDee Gilkey with today’s Open Range.

Nearly 450 sheep producers from around the country gathered in San Antonio for their annual convention in late January. American Sheep Industry ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick says one overarching issue for many of the attendees was drought.
Orwick: “The concern or anxiety over the drought situation moisture and where there isn’t moisture as we move into 2013. Probably the single biggest question is where we are going to be at for livestock feed and the cost of feed as we move into 2013.”
In discussing the marketing of American lamb - the group did express some aggravation over export markets. BSE in 2003 caused many countries to close their doors not only to U.S. beef - but also to U.S. lamb. Now that those trade relationships are being mended for beef - it seems that lamb has been left on the back burner
Orwick: “The ability to have federal trade negotiators get lamb access back into Japan would be key. China, Taiwan and the European Union was also discussed by representatives of the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the lamb industry.”
Idaho’s Margaret Soulen Hinson handed the ASI Board of Director’s presidency over to fellow Pacific Northwest sheep producer Clint Krebs of Ione, Oregon.