The New Farm Bill and Your Wool
With the passage of the 2002 farm bill, lamb and wool producers
should see some relief to the chronically depressed wool market of the last
decade. Provisions about the wool portion of the bill are sketchy at best. I
have spent the last two weeks seeking answers to my questions. Like what
qualifies as graded wool? How do we document pounds and grade? How will wool
pools test wools from various lots? How often will USDA publish wool market
prices? And how much does a core test cost?
No one from the local Farm Service agency to USDA can give me a
straight answer. The most logical advice came from a wool buyer. He told me most
likely a price would be established on a clean basis. This would stand to reason
that wools yielding 64's should be worth more than those yielding 48's. The
message coming out of Washington right now is that if your wool is tested it
will be eligible for the one-dollar amount, irrespective of its grade, and if
your wool is not tested it is worth a forty-cent marketing loan. When you think
about it if no incentive is given for higher yielding wools, no one will be
motivated to improve wool quality. The most common sense approach given to me
was to have your wool weighed by a certified scale and keep a copy. If you must
sell individually or with a pool, make arrangements with the buyer to give you a
copy of a core test on your lot of wool. Do not settle for the old hold a piece
up to the light method and call it a 62 or a 54 etc. With the cost of a core
test at about $100 some small lots will not be cost effective to do a core
sample. In these circumstances individual lots may be grouped. In most cases it
would be recommended that producers keep samples of wools from individual bags.
Those samples could be micron tested to provide baseline data and to negotiate
disputed claims. The best and most logical advice is to get a certified scale
ticket and something in writing as to the grade or grades of your wools.
With the jury still out on the specifics and no time line set
for USDA to publish wool loan rates, one would be best advised to document,
document and finally document.
Other programs are still available to producers. Year one of the
ewe lamb retention program is on going. This eighteen-dollar payment includes
ewe lambs retained in 2000 and 2001. 2002 ewe lambs will be eligible next year.
Feeder and Fat lamb payments are in their third year. Three dollars ahead is
available on feeders and five dollars on fats. Feeders are still able to be self
certified with a 72-hour notice of impending sale to USDA. I encourage each of
you to take advantage of these programs ASI and NDLWPA worked so hard to get in
place. Have a great summer and hope to see each of you at a sheep event.
Burton Pfliger, President of NDLWPA, Bismarck
State Fair Seminar on Foreign Animal Diseases
The State Board of Animal Health is sponsoring a seminar for livestock producers
this summer at the North Dakota State Fair. The seminar will focus on educating
producers about foreign animal diseases and how to prevent their herds from
becoming infected and how to minimize the impact of a foreign animal disease
outbreak if one should occur.
Dr. Corrie Brown will be the featured speaker. She is a
veterinary pathologist at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary
Medicine and an expert on foreign animal diseases and agricultural terrorism.
She is also a member of The Secretary of Agriculture
=s
Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases.
The Seminar will be held at the State Fair on July 23 in the
Norsk Room from 4:00 to 6:00 PM CST.
New Brochure on Scrapie Eradication Program For Sheep/Goat Shows
Sheep and goat producers preparing to exhibit their animals this show season are
urged to become familiar with new movement restrictions and identification
requirements associated with a national program to eradicate scrapie. ARequirements
for Going to The Show@,
a brief brochure on what exhibitors need to know as part of the new scrapie
eradication program is now available from the National Scrapie Education
Initiative conducted by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA). In
general, any breeding animal going to any show with entries from more than one
state will require official USDA identification and must be accompanied by a
health certificate. The following is the complete brochure.
Requirements for Going to "The Show"
Is there anything more fun than taking your animals to a show or fair? You not
only get to show off that prize ewe or doe, you get to see all of your friends'
best animals too. It's a lot of work but it's worth it, and this year there is
one more thing to add to your show "To Do" list- make sure
you're in compliance with the new Scrapie Eradication Rules. The bottom
line is that exhibitors need to fully comply with official scrapie
identification (ID) regulations.
Before we get to specifics, there is one more thing you need to
know: ID requirements can and do vary from show to show and state to state. The
rules covered in this brochure are the basic standards outlined by federal
regulations. Shows/exhibitions and individual states must meet these federal
standards, but they can, and often do, exceed them. So to be safe, always
check with your event organizers and/or state animal health officials.
The Basics for Shows and Exhibitions
Q What categories of sheep and goats REQUIRE
official ID at shows/exhibitions?
A All breeding females, i.e. ewes, ewe
lambs, does and doelings; all breeding rams and bucks.
Q
What categories of
sheep and goats DO NOT REQUIRE official scrapie ID for shows/exhibitions?
A Wethers, unless otherwise required
by state regulations in the state where the show is taking place or by a
specific show's rules.
Q
Does this mean that
official scrapie ID must be in place for all sheep and goats, as outlined in the
first question, for all shows?
A No, shows and exhibitions that are
not open to out-of-state exhibitors ARE NOT required to have official scrapie
ID. However, the show or state may have such a requirement, so be sure to check
the show rules or with the organizers of the event.
Q
When can breed
registration tattoos be used in place of official scrapie ID tags?
A A registration tattoo can be used
when the animal is accompanied by its registration paper or a photocopy or a
completed application for registration.
Q
Are electronic
microchips allowed in goats for exhibition?
A If your goat breed registry
recognizes electronic microchips as an authorized form of ID and the microchip
number is recorded on the registration certificate, then electronic ID is
acceptable. You must also have your registration certificate (or a copy of it)
or a health certificate which includes the microchip number that matches the one
on the registration certificate. Further, you must take your own reader unless
one is provided by the show.
Q
When should sheep or
goats be tagged?
A Any time prior to leaving the farm
or ranch.
Q
What about health
certificates?
A Any time sheep or goats cross state
lines, they must be accompanied by a health certificate (Certificate of
Veterinary Inspection).
Note: Check the show rules; some events require health certificates for all
entries.
Q
How do I know if a
given show will have entries from other states?
A Check the show=s
official rules or ask the show organizers.
Q
Who do I call to find
out what my state requires for official scrapie ID at shows/exhibitions?
A Contact your local veterinarian.
Also, your State Veterinarian's Office can inform you of ID requirements and
movement restrictions. Phone numbers for the 50 State Veterinarian Offices can
be obtained at www. animalagriculture.org/scrapie.
Q
If I am taking my
animals to an out-of-state show, can I assume that I must have official scrapie
ID and a health certificate?
A Yes.
Q
Where can I get
official identification tags and/or more information?
A Simply call 1-866-873-2824. That
number will put you in touch with animal health officials in your state who are
responsible for the scrapie eradication program.
Q
What if my sheep or
goat loses its official ID?
A Replace it with a new one, and
record the new number and flock of birth in your records.
Q
If I sell my sheep or
goat at the show, what records am I required to keep?
A Record the ID of the individual
animal(s) sold and the buyer=s
name, address and telephone number and retain the records five years.
Q
Where can I find out
more about scrapie and the scrapie eradication program?
A Contact your local veterinarian or
call your State Veterinarian=s
Office.
Or, check out:
USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services; www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/scrapie
For an individual copy of the brochure, write to Scrapie
Eradication, National Institute for Animal Agriculture, 1910 Lyda Ave., Bowling
Green, KY 42104-5809 or call 270-782-9798.
Scrapie Regulations for the 2002 North Dakota State Fair
Any sheep or goat that comes to the 2002 North Dakota State Fair, with the
exception of market wether lambs/goats, must have their scrapie identification
tags. Call the Federal Veterinarian's office in ND (701-250-4210 or
866-873-2824) to obtain your Scrapie Eradication Program tags.
Wildlife Cause $944 Million in Losses in 2001
Crop and livestock losses from wildlife in the United States totaled $944
million during 2001. Field crop losses to wildlife totaled $619 million,
livestock and poultry losses totaled $178 million, and losses of vegetables,
fruits and nuts totaled $146 million. These losses include destruction of or
damage to crops in the field and death or injury to livestock caused by
wildlife.
Coyotes accounted for 57 percent of livestock injuries or
losses, followed by cougars and bobcats at 6 percent, foxes at 5 percent, dogs
at 4 percent, raccoons at 3 percent and "other wildlife" at 25
percent.
Articles for the August Newsletter
The next newsletter will be published the end of July for August 1 delivery. I
invite anyone to submit articles to be included. I will need them by the middle
of July. Thank you! Roger Haugen, Extension Sheep Specialist, Hultz Hall,
NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105. Phone: 231-7645; Fax: 231-7590; Email: rohaugen@ndsuext.nodak.edu
News from the State
Minutes from NDLWPA Board Meeting April 18, 2002 at BSC,
Bismarck, ND
Members and guests present: Burton Pfliger, Steve Wentz, Mark Sheppard, Don
Lawson, Ula Widdel, Jane Horner, Lyle Warner, Burdell Johnson, Roger Haugen, Dr.
Susan Keller, Dr. Larry Schuler, Dr. Don Kirby, Paula Swenson and Tim Faller.
The meeting was called to order by Burton Pfliger. It was moved and seconded to
suspend the rules. Motion passed.
New Business
Dr. Keller and Dr. Schuler
Dr. Keller and Dr. Schuler presented the DRAFT of the North Dakota Scrapie Pilot
Project. The project uses genetics and live animal testing in scrapie control
with emphasis of using genetics to control the spread. ID of sheep by genotype
is highly encouraged. The pilot project is being developed to set up guidelines
of how operators will operate if they are deemed to be an infected or source
flock and decide to keep the sheep rather than dispose of them and receive
indemnity. The state is presently waiting on approval from USDA before
implementing the project. If approved the protocol would apply to anyone,
private or public, who wishes to keep their flock.
Dr. Kirby, Interim Chairman Animal and Range Sciences Department, NDSU
Dr. Kirby indicated that on 4-16-02 they had bled all of the sheep greater
than 14 months of age that were at NDSU, approximately 830. The lambs will be
bled later. Dr. Kirby indicated that they would like to cooperate with the State
Veterinarians and follow all of the guidelines set forth in the Scrapie Pilot
Project. This would include keeping a separate QQ flock for research purposes.
He indicated that about 80% of the flock was involved in some sort of research:
Range 300-350, Reproduction/Physiology 200 etc.
The Katahdin hair sheep have been in the Scrapie program for two years already.
An inventory was taken and a report was to follow within a week.
Paula Swenson
Paula reported on the Foreign Animal Disease Seminar she attended on
February 5, 2002. At the seminar they focused on Agri-terrorism and the
susceptibility of the US to terrorism in agriculture. She indicated that each
day the average American eats food that originated from 30 different countries.
She also indicated that Americans spend the least percentage of disposable
income, 11.5% on food, the lowest in the world.
Treasurers Report
The current checkbook balance as of 4-18-2002 is $9631.17
North Star Bred Ewe Sale
The net profit from the sale was $47.40. Steve moved, Lyle seconded a motion
to move the ewe sale to Bismarck and hold it in conjunction with the NDLWPA
Convention. Roger Haugen would be sale manager and we would require that
registration papers on registered ewes be turned in at the time of the sale.
Motion passed.
Jane Horner - Make it Yourself With Wool
Jane indicated that we need additional contestants in the event or the
sewing machine awards may be in jeopardy. If anyone can come up with donations
to the program please call Jane. The Wearable Accessories category has been
dropped for next year due to lack of participation.. Mark moved and Steve
seconded a motion to advance the program $600.00. Motion passed.
ASI Wool Marketing Grant
Burton and Lyle will draft a letter to ASI explaining how the grant money
was spent.
Appointment of ASI Director
Steve moved and Jane seconded a motion to nominate Burton to fill the
remaining term of Burdell Johnson. Burdell was elected to the ASI Board of
Directors.
ASI Convention
Steve moved and Lyle seconded a motion to pay Burtons' airfare to the ASI
convention, approximately $435 and Burton and Burdells' room while at ASI.
Motion passed.
Lamb Futurity
Agreed to have the North Dakota Jr. Livestock Assn. run the lamb futurity.
201 Legal Defense Fund
The legal defense of the 201 trade act cost approximately $1.2 million, at
the present time $516,000 has been paid. ND sheep producers have received
approximately $1.6 million from the trade act. Mark moved and Jane seconded a
motion to donate $1000 to the 201 legal defense fund. Motion passed.
The meeting was closed at this time and attendance limited to NDLWPA Board
Members
Three Resolutions were presented and passed by the Board of Directors
Resolution I
Be it hereby resolved that the NDLWPA supports the implementation of the
scrapie pilot project for NDSU sheep flock presented this day 4/18/02 by the ND
State Veterinarians. NDLWPA supports a post flock management plan to include and
incorporate genetic testing at codon 171 and third eye lid testing for the
retention of non-scrapie (positive) carrier sheep testing QQ for the purposes of
developing a protocol and methods for scrapie eradication in private flocks.
Resolution II
Be it hereby resolved that the NDLWPA supports the formation of a
"Sheep Advisory Committee" at NDSU and that NDLWPA has the right to
appoint three persons to that committee to review, comment, and provide input on
any changes in the management of sheep resources, research direction of sheep
held by the Land Grant Institution known as NDSU.
Resolution III
Be it hereby resolved that the NDLWPA supports the current research and
direction of the sheep resources of the NDSU Sheep Units. They include, but not
limited to the maintenance and retention of purebred Hampshire, Suffolk, and
Columbia flocks, the maintenance and retention of Katahdin (hair sheep) project.
The maintenance and retention of the Ekre and Camp Grafton projects, along with
the various other projects in reproduction, feed trials, teaching, student
recruitment, industry outreach, low input flocks, leafy spurge, out of season
breeding and high fertility work.
Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative
This is an important time of year if you were a high school graduate in May, or
if you are a parent of a high school graduate. Planning for your future may
involve getting registered to go to college. There are many different fields to
major in at the area Universities. The College of Agriculture at NDSU has always
been my favorite (class of 69). Congratulations to all high school seniors from
the DLGC on your future endeavors.
The DLGC is moving forward with new sales. Not any major new
customers, but they do add up when you put them all together. Penn Valley
Farms/Hans has been using 1000 lbs./week of our lamb trim. They are a premier
manufacturer of Natural Sausages. Moving 1000 lbs. of trim improves our carcass
utilization and overall profitability. We have some larger customers that we are
working with at the present time. The DLGC is making progress in finding new
markets, but every new market takes time.
With depressed lamb prices affecting the sheep industry, owners
of shares in the DLGC receive a higher price for the lambs they deliver for
slaughter. This has been a big benefit for sheep producers who are members of
the DLGC. It might even encourage more college bound students to enroll in
agriculture and come back to the farm after graduation from college. Have a good
summer, Jim Ostlie, Pres.
Final Rule Issued on Establishment of Lamb,
Promotion, Research & Information Order
The final rule establishing a national, industry-funded lamb promotion, research
and information program was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. The American lamb checkoff order was
published in the April 11th 2002 Federal Register, which follows the public
comment period conducted last fall.
Under the program, U.S. lamb producers, feeders and lamb packers
will all pay an assessment. Individual U.S. lamb producers and feeders will pay
a one-half ($.005) cent per pound assessment based on live weight, and the first
handler, primarily lamb packers, will pay an additional 30 cents per carcass.
The proposed order calls for a deduction at sale, however, remittance will occur
at the slaughter level for most transactions. The program is the first national
livestock assessment to include slaughter companies. The order calls for a
delayed referendum to be conducted no later than three years after assessments
begin. During this time period, refunds may be requested. Lamb imports will not
be assessed under the order. The program is expected to raise $3 million plus
each year and will fund promotion, research and information programs. Specific
programs will be determined by the program's board of directors who will be
appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Educational Information
by Roger G. Haugen, NDSU Extension
Sheep Specialist
Normal Physiological Values of Sheep
Average
(Range)
Rectal Temperature
102.8 degrees F (102.5 - 103.2)
Heart Rate
75 beats/minute (60 - 120)
Respiration Rate
20 breaths/minute
Reproductive Values:
Gestation
Period
148 days (140 - 155)
Onset of
Puberty
8 months (4 - 12)
Length of Estrus
Cycle
17 days (14 - 20)
Length of
Heat
1-2 days
Time of
Ovulation
12-24 hours before end of heat
Optimum Time to
Service
18-24 hours after onset of heat
Ram Semen/Volume per Ejaculum 1 ml (0.7 - 3.0)
Milk Composition: Water 82.9%
Fat 6.2%
Protein 5.4%
Lactose 4.3%
Daily Manure Production (feces and urine):
Adult sheep 6-10 pounds (dry ewes to mature rams)
Lactating ewes 7 pounds
Feeder lambs 4 pounds
Total solids make up about 25% of the manure and water about 75%
Sign-up for Ewe-Lamb Payments
Sign-up for the U.S. Department of Agriculture incentive payments for ewe-lamb
retention began in early April. Payments are $18 per ewe lamb for year three of
the program through July 2002. The application is an updated version of the same
form producers will use for feeder-lamb and slaughter-lamb payments, with the
addition of a section for ewe lamb
self-certification. Producers should complete the application for year 3
payments by July 2002. Further information on is available from local USDA Farm
Service Agency.
Calendar of Events:
June 14: Open Sheep Show at Red River
Valley Fair
June 15: Youth Sheep Show at Red River Valley Fair
July 21: 4-H Sheep Show at ND State Fair
July 22: FFA Sheep Show at ND State Fair
July 24-26: Open Sheep Shows at ND State Fair
August 1-3: Open Sheep Shows at SD State Fair
September 18: State Ram Sale in Hettinger
December 6: NDLWPA Ewe Sale
December 6-7: Annual Sheep Convention in Mandan
December 6-8: North Star Classic Livestock Show & Sale at Winter
Shows Building in Valley City