D2-UncMtar FarminQ Saturday, October 12,1991 Sheep Producers Approve Referendum DENVER, Colo. All 48 con tiguous states have passed the 1991 sheep industry referendum by both total producer votes and sheep numbers, said the American Sheep Industry Association fol lowing USDA’s release of the results recently. “We are extremely pleased with the results,” said Chase Hibbard, Montana sheep producer and chair of ASl’s Referendum Task Force Committee. “I think the percentage of yes votes cast by producers in this referendum shows how supportive the industry is of ASI, and that’s more important now than ever, with the current state of the indus try. If we can continue working together as a whole, we stand a much better chance of correcting and overcoming our bigger hur dles,” said Hibbard. Hibbard noted that, of voting producers, 70.4 percent owning 74.6 percent of sheep in the U.S. voted “yes” in the 1991 referen dum conducted recently. This is the tenth time the referendum has been voted on and approved by sheep producers. In approving the referendum, sheep producers said they will con tinue deductions from their wool incentive payments to support national promotions for lamb and wool. The deductions, currendy at 6 cents per pound of wool, could be increased to 7 cents for the 1991 marketing year if producer leaders and the secretary of agriculture decide the increase is warranted. During the life of the program, increases cannot exceed one cent per year or ever total more than 11 cents per pound of wool. “The most basic impact of pass ing the referendum vote has assured continued funding for state and national promotional and pro ducer education programs from fiscal year 1993 through 1997,” said ASI President Jim Magagna. He added the actual rate of deduc tion has been entrusted to the ASI board who will reach a decision on the matter at its January 1992 con vention in Orlando, Fla. “The board will take this responsibility very seriously,” said Magagna. “The legitimate budget ary needs of the state associations, adequacy of reserves, and the financial situation of our producers will all be carefully weighed.” During 1990, ASI spent approx imately $6.4 million on promo tional and educational programs and has budgeted $6.9 million for its 1991 program. ASl’s national wool promotion program is run in cooperation with other segments of the industry which provide additional or matching funds. The lamb and wool promotions include advertis ing, merchandising and education, with the majority of lamb promo tions conducted in high lamb consuming areas. Grand champion lamb- Chris Hawn, right, Gettysburg, exhibits the grand champion iamb at the 1991 Adams County 4-H/FFA Sheep Sale. The buyer was Greencastle Livestock Market, represented by Rich Byers. Springs, exhibits the reserve grand champion hog at the 1991 Adams County 4-H/FFA Swine Sale. The buyer was Hatfield Packing Co. represented by Doug Clemens, left. Brian Campbell, representing New Oxford Agway, presents the trophy to Mark. Rl gt .ipio reserve grand champion lamb on behalf of Mandy Hilbert, Llttlestown. The buyer of the 1991 Adams County 4-H/FFA lamb reserve grand champion was Gettysburg Nation?! Bank, represented by Leonard Lobaugh. Adams Co. Posts Winners n hog- Andrew Relnecker, York Springs, exhibits the grand champion hog at the 1991 Adams Coun ty 4-H/FFA Swine Sale. The buyer was Hatfield Packing Co. represented by Doug Clemens, right. Harry Hlbert, left, rep resents South Central Pork Producers, donor for the champion trophy and John deCheubell, center, represents Wayne Feeds, Dillsburg, donor of the rotating champion plaque. Sheep fitter/showman, left, Chris Hawn, Gettysburg, Senior flt/showman; Kelly Rockafellow, Gettysburg, intermediate fit/showman; and Jakob Chronister, Dillsburg, Junior fit/ showman were presented trophies at the 1991 Adams County 4-H/FFA Sheep Show. Trophies were presented by Carl E. Frantz, Plumbing and Heating, represented by Ron Funt, right, and Lady & Taylor Body Shop, represented by Jim Lady. A trophy was also presented by the Adams County Sheep Producers Association. dlate flt/showman; Kim Funt, Arendtsville, senior fit/ showman; and Nichole Stultz, New Oxford, junior fit I showman, were presented trophies at the 1991 Adams County 4-H/FFA Swine Show. Trophies were presented by Relnecker’s Ag Products, represented by Dave Relnecker, right; Hay’s Pheasant Hunt, represented by Bob Hay; and