The American Sheep Industry Association and a number of wool grower organizations have been in regular contact the past two weeks with congressional delegations to address the loss of key personnel within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The loss of Wildlife Services livestock protection services set off alarms across the country with planes and choppers grounded due to loss of pilots, support staff and control specialists. Communications from the sheep industry and the Public Lands Council heightened the awareness of the serious impact minus the livestock program. Recent communications from USDA to the industry indicate the conversations have been successful and many of the probationary and term folks have been brought back on service, which is a relief to thousands of sheep producers.
Another key topic of the communications has been drastic cuts at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Idaho and the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska, both of which are vital to sheep industry research. ASI officers have stressed that not only will layoffs slow research efforts on important animal disease issues, but that the loss of personnel makes it difficult for research center staff to care for the tens of thousands of animals on their properties.
“There is plenty of uncertainty in the federal program space today and likely that will continue for a period as the reduction in force efforts and policy on hiring evolves,” said ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick. “It is very helpful that we can make some progress in these situations as USDA is critical to the lives and health of millions of our livestock.”
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ASI – 2025
