Wool Council Finalizes
FY 2004 Budget
At meetings in Denver, Colo,
last week, the American Sheep
Industry Association’s (ASI)
Wool Council finalized the Wool
Trust Budget for FY 2003-2004
and recommended approval by
the ASI board of directors.
Preliminary work began by
hearing proposal updates from
industry associations awarded
funding through the wool out
reach program in FY 2002-2003.
Wool program updates were also
presented by companies working
with ASI on market research and
promotion, quality improvement,
information, wool producer plan
ning, U.S. wool strategy and pro
gram development. The wool
foundation and administration
were also approved.
Executive Board
Meets in Denver
The executive board meeting
of the American Sheep Industry
Association (ASI) was called to
order by President Guy Flora at 1
p.m. on July 11 in Denver, Colo.
A priority item on the agenda
was the approval of the FY
2003-2004 Wool Trust budget
and the approval of the FY
2003-2004 dues budget. Both
budgets are recommended for ap
proval by the ASI Board. A mail
ballot will be sent to the Board of
Directors next month for full
board approval.
Committee reports included an
update by Janet Mawhinrtey,
chair or the Legislative Action
Council, concerning the one-year
extension of the Lamb Market
Adjustment Assistance Program.
To date, 24 U.S. senators and nu
merous U.S. representatives have
backed ASI by communicating
their support to extend the
LMAAP program to the USDA.
Chairman Henry Bonilla (R-TX)
included language in the FY 04
appropriations bill urging USDA
to extend the retained ewe-lamb
program for an additional year.
Tentatively set for Sept. 23 and
24 in Washington, D.C., is the
second Lamb Summit between
the sheep industries of Australia,
New Zealand, and the U.S. The
board worked toward developing
an agenda for this gathering that
would be beneficial to the U.S.
sheep industry. Potential topics
for discussion at this upcoming
meeting include pharmaceuticals,
quality improvement, and an in
quiry into which markets and
programs are showing increased
lamb demand for Australia and
New Zealand. It was agreed that
Guy Flora and Cleve Dumdi will
select the U.S. participants for
the Sept, meeting.
Pasture Walk To Explore
Small-Scale, Diversified Farming
BERKSHIRE, N.Y. King
bird Farm will host a pasture
walk here July 30. Kingbird
Farm is a small, horse-powered
farm on a forested hillside in
Tioga County, N.Y.
Now in their seventh year of
production, fanners Michael and
Karm Glos produce a diverse
array of certified organically
raised meats, produce, and value
added items. Their products in
clude certified -organic beef,
chicken, turkey, eggs, herbs, and
produce garlic, jshallots.
The Minor Usage Minor Spe
cies legislation was discussed.
Adding a tax incentive compo
nent to the language of the bill
would provide additional incen
tive to pharmaceutical companies
to label products for the U.S.
sheep industry.
Margaret Soulen-Hinson up
dated the board on the progress
of the sheep insurance project.
ASI is seeking funds to assist in
the development of an insurance
program.
A priority for the sheep indus
try is to finalize completion of its
emergency communication plan
in the event an animal health
issue arises. The board will con
tinue to explore the best avenues
in the development of this sub
stantial communications plan.
A national animal health iden
tification plan is being discussed
by many in industry and govern
ment, which generated consider
able discussion, questions, and
concerns at the meeting. ASI is
represented on the national com
mittee and agreed to commu
nicate with the organizers of the
plan that the sheep industry will
continue to participate in'this en
deavor but that endorsement of
the proposed rule would be held
until publication of the plan.
The next meeting of the ASI
Executive Board is tentatively
scheduled for Oct. 24-25.
Agriculture Appropriations
Update
During consideration of the
House Agricultural Appropria
tions bill, U.S. Reps. Dennis Reh
berg (R-MT) and Darlene Hooley
(D-OR) offered an amendment to
allow the USDA to continue the
process of implementing country
of-origin labeling, which was
signed into law last Congress as
part of the Farm Bill.
The Rehberg-Hooley Amend
ment was designed to counteract
the language included in the ap
propriations bill which would
eliminate funding to the USDA
for COOL implementation on all
meat products for a year.
The Rehberg-Hooley Amend
ment failed by a narrow margin
208 against, 193 for.
The Senate Agricultural Ap
propriations Subcommittee
marked up and approved the FY
2004 Agricultural Appropriations
bill on July IS without any re
strictions on funding for the la
beling rules. Full Senate Commit
tee action is also expected this
week.
scallions, potatoes, and other veg
etables). They also seasonally
raise pork outdoors on certified
organic pasture and certified or
ganic grains. Field work is done
with their Percheron and Haf
linger horses. Kingbird Farm is
certified organic by NOFA-NY
Certified Organic LLC (a USDA
accredited certifier) for produce,
pastures, chickens, turkeys, and
eggs.
Pasture walk topics will in
clude fencing and shelter for dif
ferent species of livestock, rotat-
Border Updates
On May 20, the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency reported
a single case of bovine spongi
form encephalopathy (BSE)
prompting a ban on the importa
tion of all live ruminants and ru
minant meat and meat products.
While the investigation and dis
cussions between the two coun
tries continue, the border be
tween the U.S. and Canada
remains closed.
Also of concern to the U.S.
sheep industry is the slow-down
of lamb imports into Mexico.
Mexico normally buys the majori
ty of the U.S. supply of adult
sheep. Thus, the slowdown at the
southern border is resulting in re
duced prices for adult sheep.
The American Sheep Industry
Association (ASI) has been acti
vely working with the appropri
ate agencies to assist in a resolu
tion to these border issues. ASI
will relay any new information to
its members as it becomes avail
able.
FMD in Bolivia and Paraguay
Within the last week, both Bo
livia and Paraguay have reported
outbreaks of foot and mouth dis
ease. Bolivia confirmed four
cases while Paraguay confirmed
13. The infected animals in both
countries will be destroyed and
many more will be closely moni
tored.
Australian Lamb Exports Drop
in 2002-2003
Financial year export statistics
released by Agriculture, Forestry,
and Fisheries Australia revealed
that lamb exports declined 10
percent in 2002-2003. A combina
tion of high domestics prices,
continued shortage of heavy ex
port lambs and the rapidly ap
preciating Australian dollar are
quoted as the causes of this drop.
A drought-induced shortage of
suitable heavy lambs for the U.S.
market saw lahib exports to the
U.S. drop 5 percent.
New Technique Has Potential
for Wool
The Australian Broadcasting
Corporation reported this week
that a new technique which elim
inates two steps in the wool man
ufacturing process could open a
new market for wool growers.
The new technology, called
‘non-woven wool,’ does not need
to be spun or woven.
Dr. Len Stephens, Chief Exec
utive of Australian Wool Innova
tions, said it will provide an alter
native to polar fleece and can be
used to make any kind of soft
padding.
Weekly National Market Prices
for Wool
The USDA posted prices for
wool for the week beginning July
16, can be accessed at: http ill
www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/
FullStory.asp?StorylD=l3oo.
These rates are used to determine
the loan repayment rates for
marketing assistance loans and to
calculate loan deficiency pay
ments.
ing multiple species ot livestock
on shared pasture, and planning
grazing needs to coincide with
marketing.
For more information and to
pre-register, contact Sharon Van-
Deuson at Cornell Cooperative
Extension-Cortland County at
(607) 753-5078. For more inform
ation about Kingbird Farm visit
www.kingbirdfarm.com. For
more information on a variety of
small farm topics, visit
www.smallfarmsxomell.edu.
•• - •
Alfred State Orvis Award
Alfred State College agriculture/animal science gradu
ate Nicole Olynk of East Northport, left is congratulated
by ASC Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. John M. Anderson for being named one of four recipi
ents of the Paul B. Orvis Award for Excellence. The
award was presented during the college’s 92nd annual
Commencement exercises. The Orvis Award is a glass
bowl, presented to the outstanding senior in each of the
College’s three academic schools Arts and Sciences,
Management and Engineering Technology, and Applied
Technology and the baccalaureate programs. Olynk,
the School of Arts and Sciences recipient, who also grad
uated with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, served as a
tutor in the Peer Tutoring Program and treasurer of the
Collegiate Agricultural Leaders organization, while
achieving grades that kept her on the Dean’s List all four
semesters at Alfred State College. The 2001 graduate of
John H. Glenn High School, Elwood, N.Y., is the daughter
of Paul J. Olynk of Old Brookville, N.Y., and Nancy E.
Olynk of East Northport.
Shorthorn Juniors Race To Indy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. nate National Shorthorn Lassie
Shorthorn juniors from coast to Queen, Ann Ewald, Waldorf,
coast raced to Indianapolis, Ind., Miri. >;
June 30-July 5, to take part in Outstanding juniors from the
the largest Shorthorn junior eastern region recognized at the
event of the year. awards banquet included: . •
More than 400 kids represent- Team Fitting - -
ing 27 states and close to 500 • 5) Ohio 2, Nolyn Holley, Heidi
head of cattle came together to Bowman, Nick Barney
compete for coveted titles. Dur- Arts £ Crafts
ing the two-day show, over 600 Prmiwtor IT
head of Shorthorn cattle were ex- 4) A £ Swaßow> Oh io
hibited. , . J ,
Prior to the National Junior Interme late
Shorthorn Show, the Youth Con- Tom Wl 1 se ’ 0,1,0
ference provided a full week of Photography
activities for the junior members. Prospector II
allowing them the opportunity to 5) Trista Davis, MD
participate in friendly competi- State Scrapbook
tion against each other and other 4) Maryland
states in both individual and Team Salesmanship
team contests. Prospector II
These contests included pho- 2) Troy Bennett and Trista
tography, speech, arts and crafts, Davis, MD; 3) Lydia Ulry and
team salesmanship, showman- Amy Swallow, Ohio; 4) Tyler
ship, herdsmanship, team fitting, Rowland and Maria Conley,
beef cook-off, and livestock Ohio,
judging contests. Intermediate
During the three Youth Con- 4) Rebecca Hamilton and Ben
ference sessions held throughout Warfield MD
the week, junior members con- Sneech
centrated on personal develop- P 660 . TT
ment and leadership skills. II: „
During these sessions, state 1) Claire Bennett, MD; 4) Troy
delegates voted on the 2003-2004 Bennett, MD.; 5) Trista Davis,
AJSA Board of Directors, as well MD.
as participate in the selection of Intermediate:
the 2003-2004 National Short- 4) Alyssa Swallow, Ohio,
hom Lassie Queen. Senior Prepared:
The newly elected American 5) Sara Jo Campbell, Pa.
Junior Shorthorn Association Senior Extemporaneous:
Board of Directors includes: Alii- Showmanship
son Meyer, Greensburg, Ind., Prospector II:
president; Sara Hunter, Goodell, i) Haley Bowman, Ohio; 4)
lowa, vice president; Catherine Jacob Boyert, Ohio.
Williams, Boling, Texas, secre- Herdsmanship
tary; Amy Caverly, Clinton, Overhead
IS? 2) Ohio 3) Dakota Plains 4)
Missouri 5) Oktahoma
ND, director; Luke Bowman, Livestock Judging
Greens Fork, director; Aaron ff™°f D* VIS,on:
Hahn, Minonk, 111., director; and 2) Kyle Fleener, Pa.
Bret Fahrmeier, Lexington, Mo. Intermediate Division;
Representing the Shorthorn 4) Ben Warfield, MD.
breed as National Shorthorn Las- Prospector II:
sie Queen will be Christina Ip- 1) Amy Swallow, Ohio; 2) Kei-
Plym " uth '