ASI Let’s Grow and the Sheep Industry Roadmap

The American Sheep Industry (ASI) has dedicated its Let’s Grow Program to fulfilling the goals of the Sheep Industry Roadmap’s Productivity Committee. With a commitment of 1.5 million dollars budgeted over the next 3 years ASI’s Let’s Grow Committee is moving forward to increase the production efficiencies of the U.S. sheep industry.

Alan Culham of Michigan was hired as the coordinator of the ASI Let’s Grow program in January of this year. This was closely followed by the appointment of the new ASI Let’s Grow committee. Members include:

• Mike Corn, chairman – NM

• John Fine – OR

• Ben Lehfeldt – MT

• Wes Limesand – ND

• Lesa Eidman – CA

• Dr. Stanley Poe – IN

• Rick Powers – SC/TX

• Rob Rule – IA

• Bill Sparrow – NC

• Dr. Dennis Stiffler – NY

• Susan Shultz – OH

• Wes Moser – IA

With a newly adopted mission statement in mind to support, promote and ensure the U.S. sheep industry’s future through the development of innovative and sustainable initiatives that increase the productivity, profitability, and growth of the American sheep industry which will further enhance domestic wool and lamb production, the committee planned their program of work.

Starting March 1st applications were made available for Let’s Grow Project Grants. These grants were made available to fund groups of producers attempting to increase the production efficiency of the sheep industry. By the May 1st deadline 43 applications had been received seeking nearly 1.4 million dollars in grant funding. The committee met on May 11th in Denver, Colorado to review the proposals. Eleven grants were funded with a total of $273,306.25 awarded. Details of these projects can be obtained by visiting the sheepusa webpage at: http://www.sheepusa.org/Growourflock_Funding_FundedProjects

In addition another $24,000 was awarded to state associations to fund local state mentor programs.

A new round of funding will be established beginning in the fall. Applications will be available September 1 with proposals due back to the committee by November 15. An announcement of those grants funded is expected by the end of December.

Watch for these upcoming Let’s Grow events:

Leading Edge Sheep Production Seminar

• August 17-18, 2015 – Homestead Resort, Midway, Utah

Let’s Grow Webinars

• Aug. 25 — Dave Notter, Ph.D., Virginia Tech University, developing and using breeding objectives

• Sept. 22 – Bob Von Saun, DVM, Ph.D., Penn State University, supplementation

Montana Ram Sale Symposium

• Wednesday, September 16, 2015 – 10:00 a.m. Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Center – Miles City, MT

For more information regarding ASI Let’s Grow activities visit the ASI Let’s Grow web page at: http://www.sheepusa.org/Growourflock_Home or on facebook at: Facebook.com/LetsGrowASI