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News for sheep industry leaders
--ASI joins coalition to promote ag exports
A coalition of more than 50 agricultural organizations is in the final stages of submitting a letter to the members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies urging their strong support for maintaining and strengthening funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's export programs. The alliance urges the subcommittee, as it considers the FY 05 agriculture appropriations bill, to fund the Market Access Program (MAP) at no less than $140 million and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program at its full level of $34.5 million as authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill.
Farm income and agriculture's economic well-being depend heavily on exports, which account for one-third or more of domestic production. During development of the 2002 Farm Bill, Congress recognized the importance of U.S. agricultural exports by approving an increase in funding for MAP and FMD.
MAP and FMD are among the few tools specifically allowed under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules to help American agriculture and American workers remain competitive in a global marketplace still characterized by subsidized foreign competition.
--IWTO World Wool Award
The International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO) has published its call for applications for involvement in the World Wool Award. The event is designed to arouse international interest in wool as well as celebrate the charm and future uses of wool, especially in products and markets leading to research and innovation.
The competition is open to those between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Students, trainees and young professionals from textile/fashion schools, companies and institutes from around the world are invited to take part in this event.
Awards will be recognized in three areas: Fashion and Design; Marketing and Promotion; and Concept, Innovation and Extension. Among the prizes granted to the winners of the three categories are: free participation in the IWTO Annual Wool Congress being held in Australia in 2005; a traineeship in a wool industry company in a wool-growing or wool-producing country; and one-year international exposure via the IWTO website.
The deadline for application is July 31, 2004. Additional details and the application are available on the Internet at: http://www.iwto.org/Projects/wwa.htm.
One of the purposes of the IWTO is to position and to value wool clearly in the consumer's mind as a material which is desirable for its technical, ethical and comfort values.
--Sheep ID on ASI Site
The Sheep Working Group presentation given at the ID/INFO EXPO 2004 in Chicago, Ill., is now available via the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) website. To be most accommodating, it can be accessed either through Power Point or Acrobat.
Log on to www.sheepusa.org on the Internet. The links are located on the lower right-hand section of the homepage.
"Animal identification is one of the hottest topics in the livestock community today so it is important to have the sheep presentation on our website," stated Judy Malone, ASI information specialist. "Sheep producers, educators and extension personnel are encouraged to view the presentation and use it in upcoming industry meetings. The program received a very positive response at the EXPO, which demonstrates the time and effort the Sheep Working Group put into the ID recommendations."
--Women urged to eat meat
According to Meat News Daily, many young women are at risk of anemia because they do not have enough iron in their diet. The British Food Standards Agency highlighted the problem, adding that red meat is a great source of iron.
"Lamb and beef are the perfect solution for anyone who needs to push up their iron levels as well as being the center of an extremely tasty meal," stated David Croston, CEO of the English Beef and Lamb Executive.
--Meat and Wool New Zealand starts July 1
New Zealand Herald reported that Meat and Wool New Zealand, a combination of the former Meat Board and the remnants of the deregulated Wool Board, is set to start operations July 1.
Cros Spooner, acting chief executive, said a parliamentary select committee had recommended only a few amendments to the proposed enabling legislation. The July 1 date was set to allow the meat levy to be collected under the Commodities Levy Act and for Meat and Wool NZ to start collecting the wool levy as well.
Lamb cutlets cost more than prawns
Two of Australia's favorite foods, the prawn and the lamb cutlet, are trading places.
Prawns, traditionally an expensive treat, are now more affordable than ever. Meanwhile, the drought has taken its toll on lamb production and cutlets are now reserved for fine dining.
Newscom.Australia reported that the price of prawns this year is about what it was 20 years ago. The reason for this is "a big influx of imported cooked prawns from China at a much lower price level than we have ever seen before."
On the other hand, the "production of lamb has fallen by 14 percent because of the drought," causing lamb prices to increase over the last several years.
Weekly national market prices for wool
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's prices for wool the week beginning June 4, can be accessed at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/FullStory.asp?StoryID=1717.
These rates are used to determine the loan repayment rates for marketing assistance loans and to calculate loan deficiency payments.
Market Summary--week ending May 28.
Feeder prices: Medium and Large, 1-2, San Angelo, new crop 40-60 lbs. 114-120 $/cwt., 60-70 lbs. 111.50-119 $/cwt., 70-80 lbs. 108-117.50 $/cwt.
Slaughter prices: Negotiated, Live, wooled and shorn 90-108.36 $/cwt. for 100-165 lbs., dressed, no sales reported.
Slaughter prices: Formula, 6,468 head (1) at 174.03-205.77 $/cwt. for 72.20 ave. lbs., 4,096 head at 166.85-202.56 $/cwt for 80.1 ave. lbs.
Carcass price: Choice and Prime, YG 1-4, 390 head at 60-65 lbs. for 192-216 $/cwt., 2,742 head at 65-85 lbs. for 190-206 $/cwt., 2,688 head at 85 lbs. and up for 172-202 $/cwt.
Boxed lamb: weighted average prices ($/cwt.), Trimmed 4" Loins 414.00, Hotel Rack (2) 484.89, Leg (trotter off) 242.47, Ground lamb 278.33.
Wool: price ($/lb.) Clean, Delivered, Grade 70s (19.15-20.59 um) 2.30-2.50, 64s (20.60-22.04 um) 2.20-2.40, 62s (22.05-23.49 um) 2.00-2.30, 60s (23.50-24.94 um) 1.90-2.20, 58s (24.95-26.39 um) 1.60-1.90.
Date: 6/24/04
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