The 2014 Trade Talk brought me to the American Sheep Industry Association booth during last week’s National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s annual meeting. Executive director for American Sheep, Peter Orwick, recapped the wool and lamb markets and shared some exciting news about the organization.
“Very strong prices in 2014. Feeder lambs selling over $2 a pound. The attitude among the farmers and ranchers is wonderful. In wool prices we either met if not exceeded the world price. That’s a good market to have.”
Peter said they export over half of what is produced here in the United States and the military is one of the largest consumers of American wool. On the lamb side he said they are working on a Grow Our Flock program focused on commercial sheep producers who are interested in having more efficient operations.
Increasing production is not the only important thing happening in 2015 for the organization. A big milestone is also coming down the pipeline. “We are going to hit the 150th anniversary year mark of the American Sheep Industry Association. We are the oldest national livestock trade association in America. We will have our national convention in late January 2015 and it’s going to be a big celebration of that milestone.”
Listen to or download my complete interview with Peter here: Interview with Peter Orwich, American Sheep