Comments from outgoing & incoming Presidents of NDLWPA

Past President!
As I pen this message to you, I will be performing my final task as North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association President. At our annual convention on October 30 I stepped down as president and the members present elected Burt Pfliger of Bismarck as our new president, congratulations Burt. The NDLWPA will be in good hands as it charges into the new millennium under the guidance of Burt and our Board of Directors.

Speaking of our convention, it was a big success with attendance up and attitudes improved. It all got underway with a well attended bred-ewe sale at BSU. This was followed by our social at the Seven Seas which included our first speaker and another fun and successful fund raiser auction (raspberry jam sure has gotten expensive). Saturday morning was devoted to the Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative who put on an excellent informational, question and answer session. At noon we had our awards luncheon and the Make It Yourself With Wool Style Show. Congratulations go out to our 1999 Master Sheep Producer, Brent Stroh of Tappen. A big thank you to our Make It Yourself With Wool director, Mary Scheetz, who is resigning after many successful years of running this program with reduced funding, THANKS Mary!! After lunch we went into our annual meeting where ASI Vice President, Frank Moore, addressed the members about sheep issues of national importance. After the meeting we heard from four speakers covering important industry issues ranging from hair sheep to scrapies to predator control.

Best of all, this convention was attended by a mix of many old friends along with many new ones. To me, this speaks well for the future of our organization and the industry it serves. What a great time to turn the reins over to our new president, Burt Pfliger. I'm confident Burt and our board will do a terrific job and the best way for them to lead is when you let them know what issues are important to you and your sheep operation. Your calls were always helpful to me. I thank you for your input and for all the help many of you offered during may term as President.
Jim Marshall, Jr., Past Pres of NDLWPA, Oriska

New President!
Hello, my name is Burton Pfliger, I was recently elected President of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers at the annual convention. I look forward to working with each of you to make our association a viable link between sheep producers like yourselves, research entities, and industry.

For those of you who do not know me, I am a life-long sheep producer. Thanks to my father, I have had the good fortune of raising sheep since I was four years old. Currently, I maintain one hundred ten commercial ewes and forty registered Hampshire ewes.

I graduated from North Dakota State University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. I have served with the NDSU Extension Service as a County Agent, the North Dakota Agriculture Department as a Divisional Director, and currently employed with the City of Bismarck as an Environmental Health Specialist.

As we look to the future it is filled with both challenges and promises. Today's global market place challenges us to be innovative and efficient in order to survive and prosper. But, it promises us success if we persevere and form a unified front as sheep producers at state and national legislative forums. Recent examples of success include the tariff imposed on imported lamb, 201 funds allocated to improve industry health and competitiveness, and the Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative set up to pay a premium for a premium product.

Our current state agenda includes a decision if ND joins the unified membership campaign of ASI and allows ASI to collect state and ASI dues. Or if ND wishes to solicit its own dues and continue to forward dues to ASI. We must also set budget priorities for the coming year. As an association, we must grow and add new members. I would like to ask each current member of NDLWPA to find two names of noncurrent members and submit them for membership. I have set a meeting date for December 15th , 1999 at 10:00 a.m. at the Seven Seas in Mandan, ND. If you have any opinions or input about the unified membership program, please share them with your director or with myself at 701-222-8770.

In closing , I hope the holiday season finds all of you with abundant health and happiness for you and your loved ones. As many of you know, Wes Limesand's father has been missing. I ask that you keep Wes and his family in your prayers for the safe return of his father.
Burton Pfliger, President of NDLWPA, Bismarck

Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative - Update from President Jim Ostlie
The joint convention between the NDLWPA and the DLGC was a success. It's the largest crowd we've had for many years, it shows that producers are concerned about their future as sheep producers. The DLGC updated its members on the progress of the coop. At the start of the convention we had over 100 growers as members. At the convention, 21 new members joined our coop. We now have 125 sheep producers who have contributed their $100 "seed money". These producers have approximately 20,00 lambs they can market through the coop.

At the convention, Ole Erickson gave a history of our coop. It was Ole's idea 3 years ago that got the project started. Comments by Roger Haugen of NDSU showed the number of lambs available at different times of the year, based on the growers lambing period. Fred Eagleson discussed how Dakota Country Meats can play an integral part of this coop. He estimates he can process 100 lambs per day when the coop reaches full capacity. A producer perspective on the coop was given by Dave Merwin of Hettinger. He stated that if we deliver a uniform high quality product we should be able to ask a premium price. Doug Kilen of Central Livestock spoke on Central Livestock involvement with the coop.

Duane Cariveau spoke on his role as a consultant and writer of our business plan. We had a lengthy question and answer period. One reason farmers joined the coop is they want to have more control of the end product and retain some of those profits. North Dakota leads the nation with farmer owned cops. Now it is the sheep producers turn to keep more of the profits from raising sheep in the pockets of the sheep producers. With the help of Duane Cariveau we are investigating new markets for our lamb.

The DLGC is also on the Internet. Kay Eagleson has been working on this project. You can visit the Dakota Lamb Growers new Internet Site at www.dakotalamb.com. The site features historical and general information about the Lamb Co-op. There is general information about lamb, cooking techniques, types of retail lamb cuts and a page of frequently asked questions. The recipe section and the section where consumers will be able to purchase lamb are still being developed. The site will also have a featured product which will be changed frequently. The retail lamb items will also be for sale on the Pride of Dakota site www.shopnd.com.

E-commerce or having products for sale on the Internet is the fastest growing sales area today. Customers now expect businesses to have a web presence as well as having products available for electronic sale. The Lamb Growers are in the forefront of this marketing arena and with the correct promotion of the site, e-commerce can become a very successful way to promote our North Dakota Lamb.

News from the National Scene
Lamb-Only Checkoff Moving Forward (ASI newsrelease)
Leaders of the American sheep industry met in Denver November 19 and found agreement on several major points of a draft lamb-only checkoff plan created by the USDA's Sheep Industry Checkoff Exploration Team.

Several sheep organizations were represented at the meeting or sent comments on the USDA team's draft checkoff proposal: the American Farm Bureau Federation; the American Sheep Industry Association; the National Lamb Feeders Association; the National Sheep Association; the U.S. Sheep Seedstock Association; the Livestock Marketing Association and state sheep associations.

The meeting was conducted to ascertain major areas of agreement throughout the industry on a checkoff in anticipation of the USDA's formal request for checkoff proposals. After proposals are submitted to the USDA, the department will release a formal checkoff proposal for nationwide public comment, expected next spring.

All groups at the meeting supported a mandatory collection system. Several other major points were discussed as well. The representatives asked that a second draft order encompassing these points be written for distribution to the industry and submission to the USDA:

* Set assessments at a half-cent per pound on live lambs, with packers contributing an additional 30-cents per head. That would raise an estimated $3.8 million annually.
* Remittance to the checkoff board done at the packer level.
* Conduct a delayed referendum with full refunds available prior to the vote.
* Require a majority of voters and production for successful passage of the referendum.
* Create a 12-member checkoff board nominated by the industry and appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
* Authorize the checkoff board to conduct programs of promotion, research, information and producer information as well as accept funds for administering programs related to quality.
* Exclude importers from the checkoff.
* Limit adjustments to assessment rates to 0.2% on the per-pound basis and a similar rate for packers, and require any adjustment go through federal rulemaking and public comment period.

The need for a checkoff, as it relates to President Clinton's July decision on the industry's 201 trade case against the devastating surge of lamb imports, was recognized by the people at the meeting.

The president ordered tariffs be imposed for three years on lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand and also pledged $100 million in assistance to the industry. He also ordered the industry undergo a mid-term review in about 14 months to gauge its progress toward competitiveness.

The government's No. 1 benchmark for the review of the industry's success in implementing a 201 industry adjustment plan is a national marketing program and checkoff. The review will determine whether tariff restrictions on lamb meat imports and federal industry assistance funds will be continued for the full three years.

Also discussed at the meeting were the results of a survey conducted by ASI on the major points of the USDA Sheep Industry Checkoff Exploration Team's draft checkoff proposal. The non-scientific, informal survey netted 274 responses.

* 92% agreed with the team's recommendation for a 12-member board
* 60% preferred a board with 6 producers, 3 feeders, 2 packers and 1 seedstock representative.
* 86% preferred a delayed referendum.
* 56% preferred passage by either a majority of voters or a majority of production.
* 73% preferred packers remit funding to the checkoff board.
* 65% wanted assessments on a per-pound basis.
* 77% chose a penny-per-pound assessment rate.
* 89% wanted importers excluded from the checkoff.
* 90% agreed that the checkoff board should conduct programs in promotion, research, information and producer information as well as programs related to quality.
* 57% recommended assessment changes be done by the checkoff board with the Secretary's approval.

U.S. Meat Imports, Exports Paint Interesting Picture (ASI newsrelease)
U.S. meat imports and exports for the first seven months of 1999 have resulted in the posting of some interesting numbers, reports the American Sheep Industry Association Lamb and Wool Market Economist Steve Meyer of the Livestock Marketing Information Center.

U.S. beef imports and exports were higher than those of 1998, while pork imports increased and pork exports decreased. But perhaps most interesting of all was the 21-percent jump in imported lamb -- an additional 9.1 million pounds compared to year-ago levels -- most of which was Australian.

Lamb-import levels, on a carcass-weight basis, were 35.9, 38.0 and 37.5 percent higher than those of a year ago in May, June and July, respectively. The bottom line, says Meyers, is that the United States continues to import far more lamb and mutton than it exports.

Net lamb imports -- imports minus exports -- on a carcass-weight basis were 2.5 percent higher than those of May 1998, 7.8 percent smaller than those of June 1998, and 24.1 percent higher than those of July 1998.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) reported this week that Australian sheep producers are facing a possible production loss of A$35 million to A$40 million due to the U.S. lamb industry's successful 201 trade action. ABARE officials noted that the United States has been the largest growth market in both volume and value terms for Australian lamb exports over recent years. They added that between June 30, 1998, and June 30, 1999, Australia imported roughly 21,000 metric tons of lamb into the United States with an estimated value of A$130 million.

Beef imports for the first seven months of 1999 rose 7 percent compared to beef imports for the same time span in 1998. Most of the increase came from Brazil, which imported 61 percent more beef into the United States for the first seven months of 1999; Argentina, which imported 48 percent more; Canada, which imported 13 percent more; and Australia, which imported 5 percent more. Australia, traditionally the largest exporter of beef into the United States, posted year-to-year, double-digit percentage declines in June (-24 percent) and July (-13 percent.) New Zealand, another large beef exporter to the United States, posted year-to-year declines as well.

For the first seven months of 1999, U.S. pork imports were up 25 percent from 1998. After posting double-digit percentage increases for the first six months of 1999, July's pork imports were up only 0.5 percent compared to a year ago. The vast majority of the decline came from the huge drop in pork exports to Russia.

Canadian Company Purchases Forstmann & Co. (ASI newsrelease)
Victor Woolen Products, Ltd., of Quebec, Canada, has purchased Forstmann, Inc., a 60-year-old U.S. high-end wool and finished cloth producer in Dublin, Ga. Forstmann voluntarily filed a petition of reorganization under Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on July 23, 1999.

"We're financially stable, and we're filling orders that were placed prior to the close of sale," says Forstmann President Neal Grover, whom also is vice president of sales and marketing at Victor Woolen Products. "We've got a strong brand with a great heritage, an experienced management team and high-quality products. The tools are in place for us to carry our business forward and to be a force in this market for a long time."

Core assets included in the transaction include two manufacturing facilities, equipment contained therein, and the company's inventory, trademarks, accounts receivable, and other related assets. A new corporation, Victor Forstmann, Inc., (d.b.a. The Forstmann Co.), will operate as a wholly owned but entirely separate subsidiary of Victor Woolen Products. The Forstmann Co. will manufacture, market, and distribute high quality wool and wool-blend fabrics for menswear, womenswear, outerwear, and specialty applications including school uniforms, headwear, home products, and billiards and gaming tables. The company will utilize the corporate offices and showroom leased by the former Forstmann & Co., Inc., at 498 Seventh Ave. in New York City. To minimize confusion during the liquidation process, Forstmann's name will be changed to FSMN Liquidation Corp.

Educational Information
by Roger G. Haugen, NDSU Extension Sheep Specialist

Product Prevents Bloat when added to Cattle Drinking Water
September 30, 1999 Lethbridge Research Centre Report
Lethbridge, Alta. -- Alfalfa is arguably the highest-quality forage for the western cattle industry, but bloat is still a major stumbling block to the widespread adoption of alfalfa grazing systems. Now, a joint research effort by provincial and federal research centres has evaluated a product that can prevent the problem when added to cattle drinking water. Blocare 4511, a product developed by Ancare New Zealand Ltd., showed a 100 percent bloat prevention rate in three consecutive studies, says Dr. Tim McAllister of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Lethbridge Research Centre, who conducted testing along with scientists from Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD), the AAFC Lacombe Research Centre and the AAFC Kamloops Research Site. Blocare 4511, while not yet available to producers, is under application for registration in Canada, he says. Though its perfect bloat-prevention results cannot be expected under all commercial conditions, the product could become an important component of bloat-safe grazing systems.

In experiments near each of the research centres, cattle and sheep that received Blocare-treated water were allowed to graze alfalfa for six-hour periods. After being pulled off the pasture, livestock were kept without supplementary feed - an uncommon practice that greatly increases the chances of bloat. Blocare was administered in the water during the 18 hours in confinement. "The results show that this is a very effective product," says McAllister, a ruminant microbiologist and nutritionist. "Our experiments included alfalfa grazing periods that would normally cause bloat under most conditions, and in fact did, in our control animals. However, cattle provided with Blocare had no instances of bloat. The product allows livestock to get the nutritional and performance benefits of grazing pure alfalfa stands, while minimizing its health risk."

Blocare is a pluronic detergent that is environmentally safe and widely used in New Zealand, says McAllister. Researchers still need to determine exactly how it prevents bloat, but the overall effect of the product is to stabilize the rumen and reduce the viscosity of ruminal fluid. "To make sure cattle get an adequate daily dosage of Blocare in the water, other sources of water need to be fenced off," he says. "The treated water is foamy and pink, but the animals have no aversion to it and consumption levels are similar to non-treated water." The research team will continue evaluating Blocare and other methods to control bloat in livestock that graze alfalfa, says McAllister.

E. Coli's Survival in Soil makes Food-Safety Efforts more Complex
For 60 days or more, the form of E. coli that makes people sick can survive in the soil of pastures and feedlots, say researchers at New Mexico State University (NMSU).

"Our studies show that E. coli 0157:H7 can persist in the soil and may be a possible mode of transmission under the right conditions," says Tammy May, a NMSU livestock nutritionist.

The discovery has important implications for research designed at reducing the amount of E. coli that finds its way into the food supply. May says that although earlier research confirmed E. coli's lengthy survival in animal feces, it didn't address its longevity in soil. So she and her colleagues established colonies of E. coli bacteria in soil samples, which were then stored at various temperatures. At about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, E. coli bacteria could still be detected after nearly two months. However, the E. coli's survival rate declined when temperatures were increased and moisture levels dropped.

May says additional study is needed to fully document how long E. coli may survive in the soil, and what specific conditions favor its survival -- and demise.

Paul Rodgers, director of animal health, product safety and technical services for the American Sheep Industry Association, stressed that there is still much to be learned regarding the relationship between the presence of bacteria in the environment and bacteria in food. Rodgers added that birds and wild animals could very well be the sources of these bacteria in the environment.

Vitamin E: A Prescription for Enhancing Lamb-Growth Rates?
Treating pregnant ewes with vitamin E may improve early growth rates for lambs, especially when intensive handling or harsh range conditions stress lambs.

In preliminary research, scientists with New Mexico State University's Agricultural Experiment Station found that under stressful conditions, lambs born to ewes treated with vitamin E showed increased growth rates prior to weaning.

The advantage, however, was lost by the time the lambs were three months old. "Right now it looks like something sheep producers might use if they are anticipating that the lambs will be under stress," said NMSU Animal Scientist Tim Ross. "But we still need some more information about appropriate dosages, route of administration, and what vitamin E actually does in the animals before a recommendation can be made."

Water Concerns in the Winter
During cold winter months, many times ewes are maintained on extremely cold water in troughs and even sometimes on snow. Both circumstances lead to a reduced water intake. Ewes prefer and will consume larger quantities of warm water than cold.

Water intake increases by the third month of gestation, is doubled by the fifth month, and is greater for twin-bearing ewes than for ewes carrying a single fetus. It is estimated that lactating ewes require 100 percent more water than nonlactating ewes. If you ever wonder why your ewes are not milking enough, don't overlook the possibility that they're not drinking enough water because it's too cold.

Voluntary water consumption is two or three times dry matter consumption and increases with high-protein and salt-containing diets. A significant relationship exists between total water intake and dry matter intake. Ewes denied water for more than 24 hours may eat little or no dry feed. A lack of water accompanied by a severe depression in feed intake predisposes ewes to all sorts of problems, namely unthriftiness, malnutrition and, possibly, pregnancy disease in the case of multiple bearing ewes.

Ewes in drylot require about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water per day during gestation and between 2 to 3 gallons during lactation. Ewes on winter ranges will drink about .75 gallons per head per day when no snow cover is available. In late winter, when temperatures go up and the ewes are farther along in gestation, daily consumption will go up to 1.5 gallons and, if the forage is extremely dry, a ewe could consume over 2 gallons per day.

Salt is also important during the winter. Remember that if ewes are drinking cold water, they tend to self-regulate their salt intake. This is fine as long as salt is available at all times. However, sometimes we forget to check the salt and it runs out. This is when we can get into problems. After long periods without salt, ewes get hungry for salt and when it's re-introduced they can over-consume. These ewes, especially if they are drinking less water because it's cold, can become salt poisoned. Therefore, be aware of both the water your ewes are drinking and the amount of salt they are consuming.
REMEMBER! Adequate intake of good-quality water is essential for ewes to excrete excess toxic substance such as oxalates, ammonia, and mineral salts.

SD Sheep Shearing Training Set
A three-day sheep shearing training program will be offered Dec. 9-11 in Brookings, SD, by the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with the SD Sheep Growers Assn.

Enrollment is limited to 10 persons to assure one-on-one instruction. Registration and the instruction fee of $125 are due Dec. 7 to Jeff Held, Box 2170, Brookings, SD 57007.

The training will be instructed by Curt Olson, a professional sheep shearer from Broadus, Montana, who has taught more than 160 shearers since the program began in 1990.

Jeff Held, Extension sheep specialist at South Dakota State University, said the school is meant to teach students a standardized, consistent, and efficient method of shearing. Discussion will focus on proper use of equipment, care for sheep at shearing time, and shearer-producer relations. Students will spend three days learning shearing techniques and improving their skills, said Held. "Learning a standard shearing method with a professional approach to the occupation is the main focus of the school."

Because of the student's varied experience levels, training techniques will be taught step-by-step to continually build their knowledge, said Held. The training will provide shearing equipment, but students may bring their own equipment for check-up. Supplement educational materials, including a videotape, shearing chart, detailed diagrams of handpieces, and tips on equipment care will be provided to students for future reference.

Held noted that the school will be on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday, to allow more time and flexibility for participants. Registration forms are available over the Internet/WorldWideWeb at: http://www.abs.sdstate.edu/ars/shearing/buffalo.htm. For more information, contact Jeff Held at 605-688-5433. A second training program will be offered Feb. 10-12, 2000 in Buffalo, SD.

ND Bred Ewe/Ewe Lamb Sale Results
The second annual ND Bred Ewe/Ewe Lamb Sale held in conjunction with the North Dakota Sheep Convention was on October 29, 1999 at Bismarck State College. Both commercial and purebred ewes were offered in the sale.
RESULTS: 25 purebred ewes were offered with 16 selling at an average of $262. 118 commercial ewes were offered with 50 selling at an average of $98. High selling ewe was a Suffolk ewe from Dave Pearson of Hettinger selling for $650. The sale was sponsored and managed by the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association.

Make It Yourself With Wool Results
The Make It Yourself With Wool Contest (MIYWW) was held at the ND Sheep Convention on October 29-30 in Mandan. The winners were:

PRETEEN - Gretchen Dawley from Munich.
JUNIOR - Elizabeth Horner from Devils Lake.
SENIOR - Jessica Horner from Devils Lake.
ADULT - Margie Janke from Fullerton.

A big thank you to Mary Sheetz from Center, the coordinator of the event.

Articles for the February Newsletter
The next newsletter will be published the end of January for February 1 delivery. I invite anyone to submit articles to be included. I will need them by the middle of January. Thank you! Roger Haugen, Extension Sheep Specialist, Hultz Hall, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105. Phone: 231-7645; Fax: 231-7590; Email: rohaugen@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Association Dues for 2000
If you have a 2000 on the bottom right hand corner of your mailing address, you have paid your dues for the year 2000. If not, please send the application form included in the newsletter and $15 to our treasurer Theo Johnson. Thank You!!

Officers and Directors of NDLWPA
Pres: Burton Pfliger, Bismarck 222-8770
V.Pres: Scott Bredahl, Antler 267-3693
Sec: Lyle Warner, Baldwin 255-1183
Treas: Theo Johnson, Tuttle 867-2875
SE Dir: Brent Stroh, Tappen 327-4526
SE Dir: Harvey Dawson, Brampton 724-3405
SW Dir: Don Lawson, Flasher 597-3133
SW Dir: David Merwin, Hettinger 567-2723
NE Dir: Jeff Strand, Portland 786-2650
NE Dir: Jim Ostlie, Northwood 587-5778
NW Dir: Don Maston, Watford City 842-3150
NW Dir: Ula Widdel, Minot 722-3528
ASI Dir: Burdell Johnson, Tuttle 867-2875
MIYWW:
Past Pres: Jim Marshall, Jr., Oriska 845-2744

NDSU Research, Extension and Teaching
Hettinger: Tim Faller 567-4324
Fargo: Roger Haugen 231-7645
Wes Limesand 231-7782
Bert Moore 231-7651

Attention Board Members!!
President Burton Pfliger has called a board of directors meeting for December 15th at the Seven Seas in Mandan starting at 10:00 am CST. PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING.