Industry News

UC Cooperative Extension offers sheep shearing school

HOPLAND -- The fine art of sheep shearing will be taught in a June 2 - 6 school being offered by the University of California Cooperative Extension on the North Coast.

"Sheep shearing is an art that requires a great deal of finesse and lots of hands-on experience," says John Harper, UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor for Mendocino and Lake counties. "This five-day course will show participants how to maintain a quality wool clip and how to minimize stress to both the sheep and the sheep shearer."

The course will be held at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center in Hopland and is intended for both the beginner and advanced shearer. Participants will also learn how to handle fleece once off the sheep, including proper handling for skirting, and how to care for handpieces and sharpen combs and cutters.

The course instructor is Mike McWilliams, certified with the National Sheep Shearing Program, from Myrtle Point, Ore.

The school starts Monday, June 2, at 9 a.m. and will run until 5 p.m. every day through Friday, June 6. Subsequent days begin at 8 a.m.

The deadline to register is May 16. The course fee is $225 per student plus $25 for the workbook and DVD. All shearing equipment is provided. Beginners should plan to attend every day of the course, but other participants may attend only part of the course if they so choose. However, no adjustments will be made to the registration fee.

Early registration is highly recommended, as space fills rapidly. Enrollment is on a first-come basis. High school students wishing to take the course are encouraged to do so. Documentation of participation can be provided, but arrangements should be made with Mendocino County Cooperative Extension at least a week before shearing school starts.

"Shearing is hard physical work," Harper adds. "We suggest preparing for the school by stretching and doing light to moderate exercise." Enrolled students will be sent a leaflet suggesting appropriate stretching exercises.

Lodging is available in nearby Ukiah motels. Limited bunkhouse-style lodging is available for $7.50 per night. Arrangements to stay in the research center's bunkhouse can be made at the time of registration.

To register go to http://ucanr.org/shearing2008 . For more information about the course, contact Harper at (707) 463-4495 or jmharper@ucdavis.edu.

For more ANR news, visit
http://news.ucanr.org

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CSU, Chico Sheep and Goat Unit Schedules Summer Sale

With more than 140 lambs on the ground this spring, the California State University, Chico Sheep and Goat Unit decided to schedule a summer sheep sale. The sale will take place at the Sheep and Goat Unit at the University Farm on June 7. The sale will feature approximately 40 high-quality youth project lambs that will be ready to compete at late summer fairs.

The day will begin at 10 am with buyer registration and will conclude at 2 pm with the load out of sale animals. Other activities for the day include an educational speaker on “Goal Setting for Lamb Projects,” a free lunch for buyers and a preview of the lambs prior to the sale at 1 pm.

For Dr. Celina Johnson, faculty advisor of the Sheep and Goat Unit, the objectives for the day are two fold. “First, we want to sell lambs that perform well for youth. Second, we want to promote the unit, the farm and the fact that we have this product available.”

The mission of the Sheep and Goat Unit is to develop and maintain multiple flocks that model modern livestock production and provide a hands-on learning environment for students where they become familiar with all aspects of small ruminant management, economics and marketing while developing interpersonal and leadership skills. The unit is managed by a team of students, staff and faculty.

Visit the Chico State Sheep and Goat Unit Web site at http://www.clublambpage.com/chicostate/index.html for information on the breeding program used at CSU, Chico. For more information on the summer lamb sale contact Celina Johnson at (530) 898-4147 or crjohnson@csuchico.edu.

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Apply now for 2008 Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School

            The 23rd Annual Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School, sponsored by the National Lamb Feeders Association, will be held July 13-16, 2008 in Dixon, CA. Participants will tour surrounding sheep operations, including a range ewe, forage feeding, and feedlot operation, plus meet with industry leaders and experts to learn about the business of processing and selling lamb. Deadline to apply for this year’s program is May 1, 2008.

         “This year we will focus on the sheep industry in a world of increasing costs, on what we must do to provide incentives for producing the kind of product consumers want, and on what it takes to be a leader in agriculture today,” said program coordinator, Robert T. Rutherford, Professor and Sheep Specialist at Cal Poly.

            The school is a unique networking and learning experience for anyone involved in the sheep industry. This year speakers include leaders in lamb processing and marketing, graduates of the California Ag Leadership Program, representatives from major sheep organizations, plus experts in sheep health and land rehabilitation. Participants will meet and talk with these leaders, as well as engage in case studies and problem solving involving real-world situations.

            Applications must be received by May 1, 2008 and no fee is required. Participants must be 20 years of age or older. Once accepted, a registration fee of $100 is required. NLFA covers on-site program costs, including food, lodging, and tour related expenses. Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from Dixon, CA.

            For more information or to request an application, call NLFA (503) 364-5462 or visit: www.nlfa-sheep.org

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ASI CONDUCTING REGIONAL TARGETED GRAZING WORKSHOPS

March 5, 2008
Contact: Rochelle Oxarango, targetgraze@pmt.org, 208-436-1113

Denver, Colo. -- The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), through a grant received from the Natural Resources Conservation Services, is offering three regional workshops to train land managers, as well as sheep and goat producers, about the use of targeted grazing as a land management tool. The workshops will be conducted in Albuquerque, N.M., Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa., and Boise, Idaho.

Targeted grazing represents the application of a specific kind of livestock, at a determined season, duration and intensity to accomplish defined vegetation and landscape enhancement goals. Research and field experience have clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing sheep and goats as a land management tool. Viewed as an environmentally friendly alternative, land managers often achieve better results using targeted grazing, especially in vast roadless areas, than traditional chemical and mechanical control methods. Well-implemented targeted grazing removes weeds, leaves no chemical residue and increases biodiversity.

The day and a half workshops will be presented by experts on the topic. Vegetation management experts, agency managers and contract grazers will teach the techniques needed to implement a targeted grazing program.

Workshops dates are March 28-29 in Albuquerque, N.M., at the Albuquerque Embassy Suites Hotel; April 8-9 in Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa., at the Pennsylvania Livestock Evaluation Center; and April 17-19 in Boise, Idaho, at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel.

Registration for the workshops is $50 and includes lunch, refreshments, presentation materials and the CD version of the Targeted Grazing Handbook. Pre-registration is required.

Workshop participants are eligible for Society of Range Management’s Certified Professional in Rangeland Management Continuing Education Units and State Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits.

For further registration and targeted grazing information, visit www.sheepusa.org or contact Rochelle Oxarango at targetgraze@pmt.org or 208-436-1113 with any questions.

ASI is a national trade organization supported by 44 state sheep associations, benefiting the interests of more than 70,500 sheep producers.

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Cal-Wool Works Agreement with Roswell Wool
    After more than 50 years of service to California's sheep industry, Cal-Wool Marketing will be discontinuing its operations. As the board of directors looked to the future, it realized that the cooperative had to move more wool than it was collecting throughout the area to stay financially healthy.
    An agreement was reached between Cal-Wool and Roswell Wool in Roswell, N.M., to collect and purchase the California wools. John Mackenzie, Cal-Wool manager, will continue through May 2008 to assist with the transition and to introduce Roswell Wool to members and producers in California.
    "On behalf of the board of directors, and after 50 plus years in operation, it is hard to find the words to express our gratefulness towards the wool and sheep industry, and the American Sheep Industry Association, in particular," said Mackenzie. "By continuing to focus on the best interests of the wool growers in California, we planned a transition for the future by developing drop-off points for their wools and I will be available until May to assist Roswell's warehouse and the producers with the shift."
    Like the last two years, Roswell Wool will maintain the drop off points at Ukiah, Dunnigan, Firebaugh and Bakersfield as well as the pick up point at Rio Vista.
    Cal-Wool has been testing its wool for quality, micron, yield, length and strength to target sales into the international markets. Because of Roswell Wool's reputation of reaching out to the international markets, the Cal-Wool board felt that an agreement with Roswell would be the best fit for its members.
    "Roswell Wool is excited about this endeavor and we hope to make this as smooth of a transition as possible for the wool producers in California," commented Mike Corn, general manager for Roswell Wool. "We have had two successful years of marketing the wools for Cal-Wool and we feel that the system has worked well."
    "We greatly appreciate John's willingness to stay on through May to help with the transition," continued Corn. "We encourage producers to call John as they have in the past. It is our plan to have a new field representative in place in the next few weeks who will be able to work side-by-side with John. This is a unique opportunity where John can introduce the new representative and help build relationships with each of the producers."

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Proposed Revisions to H-2A Program
    On Wednesday, the Bush Administration announced the details of an administrative effort to bring about significant reform of the H-2A agricultural worker program. The Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR) appreciates the administration's acknowledgement of the serious labor crisis facing American agriculture and that the administration seeks to use the tools and authorities available to it to improve the situation. ACIR believes that significant H-2A reform is an essential element of a broad-based solution to the labor crisis. While the administration proposes to address some needed changes in the H-2A program that can be made within the existing legislative framework, it cannot remedy the problems created by existing law.
    There is a need for major capacity-building to enable significantly wider reliance on a reformed H-2A program. At present, only 2 percent of U.S. agricultural labor needs are provided through the H-2A program. Yet, users often experience serious delays between their dates of need and the arrival of H-2A workers. While proposed streamlining may help, capacity-building, such as at U.S. consulates abroad, is essential and will take time.
    The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) participated in a conference call on Wednesday with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor to review the multi-page proposal.
    "Currently, sheepherders have a provision within the H-2A program that exempts them from the requirement to be out of the country six months between contracts," stated Peter Orwick, executive director for ASI. "The proposed rule awaiting publication will require H-2A workers in all programs to be out of the country three months between contracts."
    Sheep producers who may be affected by this change should contact their labor organization for more details on the benefits and impacts of this proposal. It is anticipated that the proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register soon with a likely 60-day comment period.

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Revised NAIS Document Available
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the availability of a revised version of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) Program Standards and Technical Reference document and requested comments.
    The previous program standards document was made available in May 2005 with a revision published in January 2007. These revised documents reflect the continuing evolution of the NAIS, particularly with regard to identification devices available for official use within the system and provides further guidance to NAIS participants.
    Updates in the current version include an adjustment in the performance standards for identification eartags to include swine, sheep and goats and an adjustment in the printing standards for individual animal identification eartags for swine, sheep, and goats.
    The revised NAIS document is available at http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/. Comments can be submitted to animalidcomments@aphis.usda.gov.

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LRP-Lamb Sales Reach Milestone
    At the conclusion of just 11 weeks of Livestock Risk Protection-Lamb sales, more than 260,000 lambs have already been covered under this new pilot insurance program.
    "The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is very pleased with sales to date and with the acceptance of this product by our industry. Since this is a pilot program, this plan of insurance must show good sales in order to remain an option for our industry's use," commented Burdell Johnson, ASI president and chairman of the association's insurance agency, Food and Fiber Risk Managers (FFRM).
    Both ASI and the FFRM agency have been very active in assisting interested owners of lambs and helping them understand how LRP-Lamb can help them protect against unexpected declines in market prices. Producer leaders, staff and others have made presentations at state affiliate meetings this year and the LRP-Lamb online training course has been a great source of information for interested parties.
    "With most lambs in the hands of feeders at this time of year, I am encouraged that they are really giving this new risk management tool a try and have taken the opportunity to protect their market price by participating," concluded Johnson.
    As of Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, 120 premium earning policies have been purchased in 16 states. Colorado, South Dakota, Texas and California represent the states with the largest number of lambs insured.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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Senators Challenge USDA on LCP Implementation
    The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) commends the bi-partisan group of Senators for the recommendations made to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the implementation of the Livestock Compensation Program (LCP).
    In a letter signed by 24 Senators, the department was asked to administer the LCP as Congress intended for it to be delivered to provide much-needed assistance to livestock producers who suffered damages and losses due to natural disasters in 2005, 2006 and part of 2007.
    "This is an important issue for many sheep producers given the loss of feed in disaster areas resulting in higher feed costs due to drought," stated Peter Orwick, ASI executive director. "We are pleased that Senators are continuing the effort to ensure as much assistance as possible reaches the farm and ranch."
    When the LCP was implemented in 2002, it had a dramatically positive impact on operations with timely financial help following severe feed shortages.
    "We are disappointed that USDA has chosen to effectuate very restrictive, unnecessary and administratively cumbersome LCP implementation policies that would result in producer ineligibility for millions of dollars authorized by Congress to assist producers who suffered legitimate livestock losses," the Senators stated. "We find this current USDA LCP policy unacceptable."
    The Senators specifically addressed three concerns:

livestock ineligibility due to livestock not being physically located in a declared or contiguous county after the beginning date of the eligible disaster;
livestock physically located in a declared or contiguous county on the beginning date of the disaster, but determined ineligible due to USDA-perceived producer intent as to the disposition of the livestock; and
reduction in payment amount due to the Farm Service Agency County Committee setting inaccurate maximum loss caps.

"We respectfully request that you re-examine the current implementation policies for LCP and that prior to publishing the regulation governing this program that you meet with us to discuss and understand the intent of Congress to provide much-needed assistance to the livestock producers who suffered damages and losses due to natural disasters," concluded the Senators in their letter.
Showing support by affixing their name to this letter included Sens. John Barrasso (Wyo.), Max Baucus (Mont.), Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Sam Brownback (Kan.), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Larry Craig (Idaho), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Pete Domenici (N.M.), Byron Dorgan (N.D.), Michael Enzi (Wyo.), Charles Grassley (Iowa), Orrin Hatch (Utah), James Inhofe (Okla.), Tim Johnson (S.D.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Patty Murray (Wash.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Pat Roberts (Kan.), Ken Salazar (Colo.), Jon Tester (Mont.), John Thune (S.D.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.).
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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Mexico Reopens to U.S. Slaughter Sheep
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced that Mexico is once again allowing the importation of U.S. sheep intended for immediate slaughter.
    Mexico closed its border to U.S. slaughter sheep in July after it was discovered that Mexican importers were using the sheep for breeding programs. It is illegal in Mexico to import sheep for the stated purpose of slaughter but instead use them for breeding.
    Since the closure, APHIS veterinary import and export specialists have worked closely with Mexican agricultural officials to reopen the border. All U.S. slaughter sheep destined for Mexico must cross the border at Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico, which is the sister land port of Del Rio, Texas. The export of these animals to Mexico represents a $7 million market for U.S. sheep producers.
    "The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) has worked continuously with APHIS to negotiate resumption of trade and are monitoring efforts of the exporters for confirmation of slaughter sheep crossing," stated Peter Orwick, ASI executive director. "It will be interesting to see the pace of market response given the number of slaughter ewes in the country that have been on hold for the last couple of months."
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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Targeted Grazing Goes Interactive
    The targeted grazing handbook has gone interactive! This user-friendly educational module systematically walks participants through the contents of the Targeted Grazing: A natural approach to vegetation management and landscape enhancement handbook.
    The on-line navigation is instinctive and users can quickly access the desired information. If you are looking for details on a specific plant, setting land management goals or assessing the effects of targeted grazing on the health of your animals, this modular will lead you to the answers.
    The course, along with the handbook in its entirety, is available on the homepage of the American Sheep Industry Association's (ASI) Web site, www.sheepusa.org.
    The development of this module was funded in part by a two-year grant ASI received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service's Conservation Technical Assistance Program.

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Wool on the Cutting Edge
    Australian rural science organization AgResearch has developed a stab and flame resistant vest using knitted Vectran, a non-cut, ultra high-strength liquid crystal polymer based fabric, which is combined with short wool fiber that is packed into the outer fabric surface.
    The fabric resists puncture or knife penetration, is lightweight, comfortable to wear and has the dual benefits of breathability and comfort of wool and the puncture resistance of Vectran. The fabric is suitable for casual vests or jackets.
    The fabric, while not being bullet proof, is able to resist penetration by a knife and is also cut resistant. Wool, a natural protein fiber, is flame resistant and when exposed to severe heat will char into carbon but will not ignite. This carbon then forms a protective barrier against further heat.
    The Vectran yarns will hold this carbon in place, making the fabric capable of withstanding severe temperature 'flashover' without causing serious injury to the wearer or undue damage to the inherent fabric integrity.
Reprinted from Blues Country Magazine, Australia

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USDA Releases Sheep and Lamb Predator Loss Report
    In 2004, more than one-third of U.S. sheep and lamb death losses were due to predator causes. This information comes from a report recently released by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) Wildlife Services and its National Animal Health Monitoring System. The report entitled Sheep and Lamb Predator Death Loss in the United States, 2004 is conducted every five years and is available at http://nahms.aphis.usda.gov/sheep/sheep_pred_deathloss_2004.pdf.
    A total of 600,300 animals (385,000 lambs and 215,300 sheep) were lost due to predator and non-predator causes in 2004, representing 9.4 percent and 5.6 percent of lamb crop and sheep inventory, respectively. Predator losses account for 37.3 percent of the total number of losses while non-predator losses represent 62.7 percent.
    The report indicates that sheep and lamb losses due to predators have decreased from 368,050 in 1994 to 224,200 in 2004. A substantial factor that is not accounted for, however, is the number of lambs lost prior to docking.
    In 2004, as in the 1994 and 1999 reports, a higher percentage of lamb losses (41 percent) than sheep losses (30.8 percent) was due to predators.
    Coyotes accounted for the highest percentage of sheep losses in four of the five regions in 2004, equating to 51.7 percent of sheep deaths due to predators. The exception was in the southeast/other region, where dogs accounted for the highest percentage of predator loss. Coyotes also accounted for the highest percentage of death losses in lambs in 1994, 1999 and 2004 with 69.4 percent, 64.3 percent and 64.2 percent of total predator loss, respectively.
    As mentioned earlier, lamb losses occurring before docking in the Pacific and West Central regions are not included in these estimates. While these numbers may be difficult to measure accurately, these losses account for a substantial portion of total lamb losses. Five states (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana) publish state-level pre-docking losses. According to these reports, more than 61 percent of all lambs lost are lost to predators prior to docking.

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Urge Support of State-Inspected Meat
    With the U.S. Senate beginning its consideration of the Farm Bill, the Coalition for Fair Agriculture and Rural Markets forwarded a letter to members urging them to support legislation that would allow state-inspected meat and poultry to be sold in the national marketplace.
    Twenty-eight states currently have meat and poultry inspection programs that serve more than 2,000 state-inspected meat processors. These processors, mostly smaller businesses, are prevented from competing in the national marketplace.
    A law from the 1960s prohibits the sale of state-inspected meat products (sheep, goat, beef, poultry and pork) across state lines, even though these products must meet or exceed federal inspection standards. Meat and poultry products from 34 foreign countries can be freely shipped and sold anywhere in the United States, as long as that country's inspection program is equivalent to federal standards - essentially the same standards that state meat-inspection programs must meet.
    No other food commodities inspected by state authorities are prohibited from being shipped across state lines. Other state-inspected food products, including perishable items such as milk, dairy products, fruit, vegetables, fish and shellfish, are marketed freely across the country. The current ban on interstate sales does not apply to 'non-amenable' meats such as venison, pheasant, quail, rabbit and others.
    The American Sheep Industry Association is one of the nearly 70 agricultural organizations urging the passage of this legislation.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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Alien Sheep
    A flock of alien sheep has become a local attraction in a Romanian village after all 250 turned green overnight. The owner of the sheep called the veterinarian to see what was wrong with his animals.
    Locals assembled to see the unusual sight while the vet took samples from the wool of the sheep and discovered they had all been exposed to a solution of limestone. The shepherd said he used the solution to treat a skin rash on a few animals.
    All the animals turned green during the night because it was a little chilly and they slept very close together.

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Listeria Workshop for Small Businesses
    Specifically geared to small and medium sized ready-to-eat meat and poultry processors, North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP), the American Association of Meat Processors and the Southwest Meat Association are sponsoring a one-day workshop to help this group improve its listeria-control programs.
    The workshop, scheduled for Nov. 8 at the Embassy Suites Dallas at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport North, will be led by University of Nebraska's Reddi Thippareddi, a food-safety expert who is also NAMP's science advisor. He will discuss the latest listeria-control methods and ways for processors to improve their current systems or move up to the next level.
    For more information or to register for the workshop, visit www.namp.com.

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AWC Considering Wool Press Program
    The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) has received several inquiries from producers regarding the possibility of the American Wool Council (AWC) assisting in acquiring a quantity of Lyco wool presses from Australia. Therefore, ASI is assessing the extent of interest to determine if there would be sufficient orders of wool presses to completely fill a shipping container.
    The Lyco Dominator wool press offers a fast cycle time, low fill height, front or rear loading and direct bale removal. The presses use Honda gas-powered engines, unless other specifications are requested in the order. Presses would be scheduled for delivery in January 2008.
    The current price quote for these presses is between $11,000 and $12,000. A $1,000 non-refundable down payment would be required at the time of the order and would be applied to the purchase price of the press. If there is not sufficient interest to fill a shipping container, a full refund will be made.
    To place your order or to receive more information, contact ASI via e-mail at info@sheepusa.org or call Rita at 303-771-3500, ext. 29, before Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007.
Staff contact: Rita Kourlis Samuelson, ext. 29

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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/us/21sheep.html

An Industry Fades, but Its Dogs Carry On

Max Whittaker for The New York Times

Kate, a border collie, running the course at the sheepdog trials at the Mendocino County Fair.

By CAROL POGASH

Published: September 21, 2007

BOONVILLE, Calif., Sept. 16 — Sheep were an important part of this rural Northern California region after it was settled in the 1850s. But in the last 30 years or so, most local sheep ranchers have been driven out of business by the rising cost of land, predators, the changing American palate and global competition.

Since 1945, the number of sheep in the United States has fallen to 7 million from 46 million, said Megan Wortman, marketing director of the American Lamb Board. With an influx of hobbyists, however, sheepdog trials are a popular vestige of ranching life, especially here at the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show.

“In the 1980s, I would see one or two handlers out of 25 who weren’t ranchers,” said William Slaven, of Yolo County. At this year’s Mendocino fair finals, Mr. Slaven, 79, was one of only two ranchers competing. He and his hard-driving border collie, Roy, herd 500 sheep — down from 1,500 after a pasture fire last year.

Roy and Mr. Slaven took third place at the fair, bested by Tess and her owner, Colleen Duncan, an accountant, and ultimately by Nell, a scruffy red-and-white border collie, and his handler, Ms. Duncan’s husband, Darrell Duncan, who won a belt buckle nearly as big as a hubcap. “This sure beats working at the office,” said Mr. Duncan, an architect.

Trials test the agility of handler and animal. In these parts, a handler whistles or calls his dog but cannot use hand signals. Dogs have 10 minutes to stalk, run and eye three sheep through an obstacle course of slatted panels and a Y-shaped plywood chute and into a distant pen. “It’s like a three-way dance,” said Ms. Duncan. The Duncans own 8 dogs and 30 sheep.

Working dogs are still used to move flocks of sheep. But for the hobbyists, sheep serve a different purpose: “An awful lot of us now only have sheep to entertain our dogs,” said a finalist here, Jack Mathieson, a systems analyst.

Grant Colfax, who was home-schooled in Boonville and now works as San Francisco’s director of H.I.V. prevention and research, described the sheepdog trials as “a moment where everything seems to be in balance.” As he stood in front of football bleachers, where more than 1,000 fans cheered the dogs and their handlers at the center of a bowl of bucolic hills, Dr. Colfax said: “It’s what everyone wants America to look like. It’s an illusion we all collectively embrace.”

In the 1940s, there were 300,000 sheep in Mendocino County, said John Harper, a livestock and natural resources adviser at the University of California Cooperative Extension at Ukiah. Today, there are no more than 14,000.

Americans’ attitude toward lamb changed after 1945, when soldiers overseas, fed partly cooked mutton, became sick and returned home telling their wives, “ ‘Just don’t feed me lamb,’ ” Mr. Harper said.

The annual per-capita consumption of lamb has tumbled to one pound today from a high of six pounds in the late ’40s, said Ms. Wortman of the lamb board.

Since that era, higher and higher land prices in this region have persuaded many ranchers to sell their acreage, often to grape growers. Those who remain must be innovative to survive.

With his three-legged dog, Archie, Bruce Campbell, from Sonoma County, won the state sheepdog trials championship in the mid-1970s, when he owned 2,500 sheep. Today, he has 200.

Raising sheep became harder after 1972, when President Richard M. Nixon, in an effort to protect wildlife, banned a poison that had been used to kill coyotes, among the deadliest of sheep predators.

Still, Mr. Campbell persevered, selling his lamb to Whole Foods and other markets until they switched to cheaper lamb from New Zealand and Australia, which lack major predators.

“For someone not as stubborn as I, that would have been the last lap,” he said. Instead, he has found a niche market, selling lamb without hormones or antibiotics to the acclaimed chef Wolfgang Puck and other clients. Gary and Wanda Johnson, who supplied the sheep for Sunday’s trials, own 200. They had 4,000 in the 1970s, before coyotes destroyed much of their flock and before imported lamb flooded the market in the 1990s.

A fourth-generation rancher, Mr. Johnson and his wife, who was 9 when she began competing in sheepdog trials, have full-time jobs to supplement their income.

California remains one of the largest producers of lamb, although ranching has shifted to the central and southern parts, where land is flat, fenced and less expensive.

But once a year, sheepdog fans in Mendocino County celebrate the past.

When Mr. Slaven’s dog Roy failed to urge three sheep through the chute, the crowd sighed. When Roy eyed the sheep backward into the pen, fans roared. “That dog is intimidating the sheep with his eyes,” said an approving Tom Trent, a carpenter and one of the finalists.

Besides Mr. Slaven, the only other sheep rancher to compete this year was Gordon Contival, 80, who has so few sheep left that his wife calls him a hobbyist. A third-generation rancher, Mr. Contival survives by selling directly to customers. He said the offspring of his fifth-generation border collie, Kate, will work as herders, but none of his six children have chosen to follow him into the sheep ranching business.

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September 21, 2007

Johanns Resigns as Agriculture Secretary
    President George W. Bush announced on Thursday that Mike Johanns resigned as secretary of agriculture to seek a senate seat from Nebraska. Johanns took office in January 2005.
    "The secretary has been a real friend of the sheep industry," stated Paul Frischknecht, past president of the American Sheep Industry Association. "During his tenure as secretary of agriculture, I, along with many other industry leaders, had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with Johanns. We always felt that he listened to the concerns of the sheep industry and supported us as we worked to resolve issues."
    "He brought focus and energy to the department," President Bush said. "He was a champion of renewable fuels. He expanded the department's commitment to conservation. He worked endlessly to open up foreign markets. He provided timely assistance to farmers and ranchers devastated by natural disasters. I couldn't have asked for a better Secretary of Agriculture."
    Charles Conner, deputy agriculture secretary, has been named acting agriculture secretary. Connors, the second-ranking official at USDA, has led the department's lobbying effort on the Farm Bill, a multi-year reauthorization of all U.S. agriculture programs.

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USDA Launches Food Safety Web Site
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a Web portal to help smaller companies answer food safety questions and help all food processors make science-based food production decisions.
    The Predicitive Microbiology Information Portal (PMIP) features predictive microbiology modeling software designed to assist food processors in their food safety decision-making process. It currently features information on research, regulations and resources related to Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods. In the coming months, it will be expanded to include other pathogen and food combinations. A searchable database allows users to find information that also may be used to develop hazard analysis and critical control point plans to ensure the safety of food processes.
    The Web portal also includes a tutorial section on using and interpreting predictive models and links users directly to the pathogen modeling program and ComBase, an international relational database of predictive microbiology information.
    The PMIP may be accessed at www.ars.usda.gov/naa/errc/mfsru/portal.

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September 14, 2007

Ag Census Web Site Goes Live

    Information on the 2007 Census of Agriculture is now only one click away at www.agcensus.usda.gov. The new Web site is a clearinghouse created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to provide farmers, ranchers and the rest of the agricultural community with the latest news and information about the upcoming census.
    "The census site is part of our ongoing effort to accommodate the growing number of farmers and ranchers that are using the Internet," said NASS Administrator Ron Bosecker. "Taking that effort even further, this year will mark the first time that producers have the option of filling out their census forms online, saving both time and postage costs."
    NASS will mail out census forms on Dec. 28, 2007, to collect data for the 2007 calendar year. This mailing will include instructions on how to log in and respond to the census via a secure Web connection. Whether the choice is made to respond online or by mail, producers are asked to return their completed census forms by Feb. 4, 2008.
    Conducted every five years by USDA, the census is a complete count of the nation's farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures and other topics. It provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation.
    "Census Web site visitors can find answers to frequently asked questions about the census and can access data from previous counts, dating all the way back to 1840. In addition, those wanting to plan ahead can download a draft of the actual census form and begin pulling together the information they'll need to respond," said Bosecker.

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September 12, 2007

LRP-Lamb Available Sept. 17, 2007
Completed applications must be submitted prior to purchasing the insurance product.
Contact the Food and Fiber Risk Managers NOW to receive an application form.
E-mail Alex Glann at aglann@fafrm.com or Carol Sorvik at csorvik@fafrm.com for an application.

Livestock Risk Protection-Lamb (LRP-Lamb) protects producers and feeders from unexpected lamb price declines. Benefits include: reasonable rates, the only market-risk protection for sheep producers and is favorably viewed by lenders.

LRP-Lamb is available to qualifying sheep producers and feeders in all counties of the following 27 states:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Food and Fiber Risk Managers, LLC

1-877-957-8006
aglann@fafrm.com
www.fafrm.com

More Producer Participation Needed in FMD Simulation
In the wake of the recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the United Kingdom, researchers at the Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS) at the University of California Davis are calling upon livestock producers to participate in an online survey. The goal of the survey is to collect information for a computer simulation model that will help predict how FMD would spread in the United States and identify the best control strategies for containment.
The online survey can be found at www.fmdsurvey.com. CADMS guarantees that all the information will be kept confidential and will only be used for modeling purposes.

DENVER, Colo. - As the owner of a long-awaited insurance product for the sheep industry, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is proud to announce that Livestock Risk Protection-Lamb (LRP-Lamb) became a reality today. This newly designed insurance product will be available for purchase on Sept. 17, 2007.
“ASI has been committed to bringing this product to culmination since October 2004. The LRP-Lamb pilot program will fill a serious void that has existed for sheep producers in this country,” comments Burdell Johnson, ASI president. “We are pleased that Sept. 17 has been announced as the first date that producers will be able to purchase this coverage.”
On Sept. 28, 2006, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation's (FCIC) board of directors approved the expansion of the LRP insurance to include a lamb pilot program as requested by ASI. The program details have been finalized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), and today’s announcement fulfills the required 60-day advance notice informing all parties of the details of this product.
ASI and its development partners, Applied Analytics, the American Sheep and Goat Center, the Livestock Marketing Information Center and Virginia Tech, worked with the FCIC and RMA for nearly three years to bring this much-needed insurance product to producers.
LRP-Lamb is designed to insure against unexpected declines in market prices of slaughter lambs. Sheep producers may select 13-week, 26-week or 39-week insurance periods as well as coverage levels ranging from 80 percent to 95 percent of the expected ending value to correspond with their general feeding, production and marketing practices.
LRP-Lamb may be purchased on Monday each week (as long as rates and coverage prices are available) with sales beginning at approximately 10 a.m. on Monday morning when rates and coverage prices are released and ending on that same day at 7 p.m. Central time. Preliminary rates and coverage prices may be released the Friday evening prior to the day of sales for viewing over the weekend. LRP-Lamb must be purchased through an insurance agent. Producers may access the current rates and coverage prices and all policy materials, including premium calculation instructions, on the RMA Web site at www.rma.usda.gov/livestock/.
LRP-Lamb is available to sheep producers with lambs located in all counties of the following 27 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

ASI is developing an online educational/training course detailing the features of LRP-Lamb that will be available in August. It is designed as a tool for producers and agents to learn more about the product and to offer scenarios to assist with the decision to purchase the insurance. It will be available at www.sheepusa.org.

As an additional service to the sheep industry and to help ensure the success of the pilot program, ASI has also created an insurance agency, Food and Fiber Risk Managers LLC. More information is available on ASI’s Web site regarding this agency.

“The success of the LRP-Lamb will be dependent on the support producers and feeders show for this program. The higher the demand for the product, the greater the chance it will have to thrive and become a permanent product,” concludes Johnson.

ASI is a national trade organization supported by 44 state sheep associations, benefiting the interests of more than 69,000 sheep producers.