Prior to the events of September 11, 2001 Congress was set to rewrite our farm bill. We had captured the ear and the attention of our state Delegation and that of the nation's congress. Progress was appearing to be made on many issues concerning Agriculture in general as well as the sheep industry. Provisions for relief on the wool market were set to be included. South Dakota's congressional delegation had visited their sheep producers during sit down face to face meetings trying to come up with solutions with this disastrous lamb market. Our state was in the process of finalizing our meeting when disaster struck. I fully understand the priorities of our country and our government. In fact I would gladly take a back seat to the issues at hand with the immediate crisis. What I do not want to happen is to have the Agriculture crisis swept aside and forgotten. Truly the finances and lives of many people in agriculture are greatly affected by shortcomings of depressed commodity prices. In the case of the current lamb price not even covering feed or production costs in producing a lamb. During North Dakota's meeting with congressional leaders I had hoped to make them aware of our struggles with current prices, imports, and concentration in an already concentrated industry. I had hoped to ask them for some relief in the form of restricting imports, outlawing packer owned feeding, and asking for their support in finding a floor price for production costs in our industry. I was prepared to ask if congress was unwilling to restrict imports, that we be treated no different than any other commodity whether it is wheat, cotton, corn, or oilseeds. These all have established production cost and when market prices do not meet cost these committees are eligible for relief in the forms of disaster payments or loan deficiency payments.

My purpose in telling each of you this is to make each of you, a voice for your own cause. Information is the key to survival in today's world. I encourage each of you to make your own contacts with the people that shape our legislation. Study the issues that shape your world. I will continue to do my part in making efforts to get the word out about the plight we face, but each of you making a call or writing a letter would greatly improve our chances as an industry. In times like this I think the words of Theodore Roosevelt serve us best " to walk softly and to carry a big stick". I envision our role to be mindful and respectful of the matters at hand that need immediate attention, but when each of us build on the foundation of each other voices and voice our concerns, this is what will become the big stick.

Let us keep the people and the families of those lost in this terrorist act in our thoughts and prayers. Let us continue our rebirth in patriotism, be unyielding in our resolve to end terrorism, and never let agriculture's plight become another causality of this terrorist act.
 Burton Pfliger, President of NDLWPA, Bismarck

The meeting was called to order by Burton Pfliger.

Roger H. read the minutes, a correction was made, the magazine name is Sew News instead of Sonys. The minutes were approved as corrected.

Burdell J. gave the treasures report. The current checkbook balance is $5962. The treasurers report was approved as presented.

OLD BUSINESS
The North Star Bred Ewe Sale was discussed. It was suggested that if the sale falls through in Valley City, that it be moved back to Bismarck. The Board asked Roger H. to run the sale in Valley City. Roger will develop some outside ads.

NEW BUSINESS
The Board discussed the permanent ID tags for Scrapie identification. The NDLWPA should provide the lead for the program. Burton P. suggested that board members should visit with local sale barns to help them understand the program.

Burdell J. gave the ASI report. ASI had money for wool promotion and NDLWPA received $2300 for the purpose of building a wool sacker. A firm was contracted to make a portable sacker for the sum of $3500. Brent S. moved and Steve W. seconded a motion that the remaining $1200 be taken out of the CD's in Beulah if and when we may run short of money in the treasury. Motion passed.

Fundraising was discussed. Burton P. asked Board members to solicit articles for the auction that is held in conjunction with the State Convention.

Burton P. gave the MIYWW report. Marie Lefeldt presented a program in Fargo. The TV show featuring Jane Horners daughter was canceled. The current balance in the account is $150 and Jane indicated that she needed an additional $270. She indicated that she needed three airline tickets. It was discussed that NDLWPA would purchase two tickets an not provide $200 because of a money shortage.

Dave M. gave the Dakota Lamb Growers report. They have added a program for year round pricing. They are giving premiums on carcasses from out of season lambs. The have a new account for 200 lambs per week starting in January. The coop will be making sausage products at a plant in Minnesota.

Scott Bredahl gave the Junior Futurity report. Awards will be presented at the State Convention. We encourage all Junior Futurity participants to attend the Convention. CONGRATULATIONS you all did a terrific job.

It was moved by Brent S. and seconded by Dave M. that the By-laws be changed to allow the Board of Directors the right to establish annual dues. Motion passed.

Scott B. moved and Ula W. seconded a motion to change the By-laws to read that the offices of President, Vice President and Secretary by changed from up to two consecutive year terms to up to five consecutive year terms. Motion passed.

Roger H. talked about the Master Sheep Producer Awards. Don L and Brent S will travel with Roger to visit the nominees. Burton, Burdell and Scott will review the paper applications .

After some discussion it was moved by Steve W. and seconded by Brent S. that an appreciation award be given to Dr. Schuler and Dr. Keller for the tremendous help they have been to the NDLWPA.. Motion passed.

Burton P. will appoint a nomination committee.

Brent moved and Ula seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Proposed Amendments to the By-Laws of the NDLWPA
In accordance with our constitution, any changes or amendments in our by-laws or constitution have to have approval of the entire membership and all members must be given a 30-day notice of such changes. Your Board of Directors have proposed the following amendments. Therefore, this is your notice of the proposed amendments to the by-laws of the NDLWPA that will be brought before the entire membership for approval during the annual meeting on December 1, 2001 at the sheep convention. If you desire to change these amendments, you must submit your change in writing prior to the convention and send it to Burton Pfliger, 3600 80th St SE, Bismarck, ND 58504.

Present language: Section 2A - All regular and associate membership dues shall be $15.00 per year. A junior membership is available for $5.00 per year for anyone 18 years of age and under.
New language: Section 2A - All regular, associate, and junior (anyone 18 years of age and under) membership dues shall be set by the Board of Directors.

Present language: Section 3C1a - Concerning term limits of officers - The president, vice-president, and secretary shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.
New language: Section 3C1a - Concerning term limits of officers - The president, vice-president, and secretary shall serve no more than five consecutive terms.

Attention NDLWPA members!
Room reservations for the convention on November 30 and December 1 should be made directly to the Seven Seas Motel, phone 1-800-597-7327 or 701/663-7401. Indicate you are attending the Sheep Convention for a special rate of $50 a room. Also, items will be needed for the fund raising auction held on Friday night of the our annual sheep convention in November. This is an early notice for you to be thinking ahead about items you could donate. All donated items are auction off with proceeds going to association. Thanks in advance.

NDSU Sheep School - November 29-30 in Mandan
Topics including management, nutrition, breeding and new technology will be covered in a two-day sheep school scheduled for Thursday and Friday, November 29 and 30, in Mandan.

One day of the school will coincide with the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers' Annual Sheep Producers Convention, set for Friday and Saturday, November 30 and December 1. Both the school and the convention will be held at Mandan's Seven Seas Motel and Convention Center. The school is sponsored by the North Dakota State University Extension Service and the NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center.

The school's broad focus makes it excellent training for new producers. The school also provides a thorough review for long-time producers. Health, nutrition, breeding strategies, marketing, enterprise analysis, facilities and other topics will be included in the instruction. Instructors will come from NDSU and the sheep industry.

Tuition is $25 per person or $35 for two people from the same operation. Tuition includes noon meals both days. Participation will be limited to the first 25 operations to enroll. The enrollment deadline is Friday, November 23.

To receive a registration packet or for more information on the school or housing, contact Tim Faller, Hettinger Research Extension Center, Box 1377, Hettinger, N.D. 58639, (701) 567-4323. Or contact Roger Haugen, NDSU, Hultz hall, P.O. Box 5053, Fargo, ND 58105-5053, (701) 231-7645.

Infigen used newly developed proprietary procedures to produce five embryos from 25 enucleated eggs. These embryos were transferred into two recipient ewes, resulting in the birth of Pickles following a normal gestation period. The adult cell was produced using cells taken from a 10-year-old adult ewe. There were no complications during the July 22 birth, and Pickles is in excellent health.

Retained Ewe Lamb Program Update
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) office has received numerous phone calls requesting details about the new breeding ewe payment program that was recently announced as part of an additional $43 million in industry assistance. ASI wants to ensure that sheep producers are aware of this new program currently under development.

The additional assistance package includes $13 million for a breeding ewe lamb payment program that will be available for sign up yet this fall to complement the current feeder and slaughter lamb payments. An announcement regarding specific payment provisions and application deadlines is expected in the next few weeks.

"This new program will provide significant payments for lambs retained for breeding or purchased for breeding," said ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick. "I would expect the application form to require a certification of the number of lambs, as well as a year rule to keep them in the herd. It is important that producers, sale barns, buyers and breeders are aware that this program is on its way."

Safeway to switch to New Zealand lamb; U.S. sheep industry members, consumers asked to boycott move
Representatives of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) have learned that the Safeway International Headquarters has decided its 1,650 Safeway stores across the United States and Canada will stock only New Zealand lamb. Until now, some divisions have carried American lamb only, or a mix of American and foreign product.

"I think it's ironic that Safeway is so proud of the $80 million it has contributed to community support programs, yet has chosen to blatantly disregard the economic welfare of this nation's 60,000-plus sheep producers," said Paul Rodgers, ASI's director of lamb marketing.

But all may not be lost. "It is my understanding that the Safeway Corporate Office really responds to its customers, and they know American lamb is a great product," said Rodgers.

To that end, ASI is asking state sheep association members to rally around the cause by submitting comments via the comments cards available in all Safeway stores nationwide and to encourage consumers to do the same.

"The most effective tool in getting Safeway to change its mind will be through consumer comments," added Rodgers. "Consumers need to tell management that they like American lamb, want to support American industries and object to being forced to buy only New Zealand lamb."

Comments also can be submitted electronically via Safeway's International Headquarters Web site at http://www.safeway.com. Written comments can be sent to: Safeway International Headquarters; 5918 Stoneridge Mall Road; Pleasanton, CA 94588; phone: (925) 467-3000.

Proposed Lamb Checkoff Order Published in Federal Register; Sheep Industry Encouraged to Comment
A proposed order for a national lamb checkoff program was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Sept. 21st Federal Register. ASI encourages U.S. sheep industry members to review the order and provide feedback during the 60-day comment period.

Under the proposed program, U.S. lamb producers and feeders and lamb packers would all pay an assessment. The program would represent the only livestock checkoff program of its kind in which packers are assessed. Individual U.S. lamb producers and feeders would pay a one-half cent per pound assessment based on live weight, and lamb packing companies would pay 30 cents per carcass. The proposed order calls for a deduction at sale, however, remittance would occur at the slaughter level for most transactions.

A lamb checkoff program proposal has been in development for some time. In May 1999, USDA brought together a task force together of all segments of the industry to investigate lamb checkoff possibilities.

Moore added, "I am very pleased to see USDA put forward the assessment on packers, an industry-wide board, an affordable rate of assessment and an efficient collection and remittance process. I sincerely hope folks in our business will comment positively and at least give the program a try."

The order calls for a delayed referendum to be conducted no later than three years after assessments begin. During this three-year period, full refunds may be requested.

Lamb imports would not be assessed under the proposed order.

"Assessing imports was an issue of much discussion among task force members," Moore said. "It was recommended by that group that imports be excluded, so that checkoff funding could be used to exclusively promote American lamb."

The proposed checkoff is expected to raise approximately $3 million each year and would fund a promotion, research and information program. The program's goals would be to increase demand for lamb, maintain and expand markets for American lamb and lamb products, and to compete against rising foreign imports of low-priced lamb.

The program would be administered by a Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Board appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Industry organizations would nominate representatives to serve on the 12-member board, which would include: six producer representatives (three each from two regions), three feeder representatives; two packers/processors and one seedstock producer.

Some in agriculture are questioning whether checkoff programs can exist the way they currently are structured.

"The U.S. lamb industry has a choice of continuing to do little to nothing to support American lamb while waiting out the court challenges or getting a national program in place before we enter another year with lambs at these severely depressed prices," Moore said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service has posted a copy of the proposed Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information order to its web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/. Copies of the rule and additional information also are available at the address listed in the following paragraph, or by calling (202) 720-1115.

Comments on the proposed order must be submitted no later than Nov. 20, 2001, to Ralph L. Tapp, Chief, Marketing Programs Branch, AMS Livestock and Seed Program; USDA Stop 0251, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, D.C. 20250. Comments may also be submitted electronically to ralph.tapp@usda.gov mailto:ralph.tapp@usda.gov or by fax at (202) 720-1125.

North Dakota "Master Sheep Producers" Nominations for 2001
The North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association and the NDSU Extension Service will be selecting some of the outstanding sheep producers in the state for 2001 and recognizing them for their achievements. Those selected will be honored at the North Dakota Sheep Convention on November 30 - December 1, 2001 at the Seven Seas Inn in Mandan.

Purpose of the recognition is to focus attention on the outstanding job being done by these sheep producers. They will be honored for their accomplishments in efficient, profitable sheep production, civic service, and contributions to the sheep industry. From one to two producers will be honored.

In an effort to locate these producers, we are asking you to help us. We would like you to send the name and complete address of any producer you think is deserving of recognition. Nominate as many candidates as you wish. I will supply each nominee a form to fill out. There is no age limit and there is no restriction on the size of the operation. The only restriction is that the producer have a minimum of three consecutive years in sheep production.

A screening committee will review all nominees and select those to be visited by a selection committee. All nominations need to be sent to me at the address below by October 17, 2001.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Roger G. Haugen
Extension Sheep Specialist,
Hultz Hall, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105
(701) 231-7645

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

Hettinger Ram Sale Results
The Hettinger Ram Sale was held on September 19, 2001 in Hettinger, North Dakota. 150 rams sold for an average of $231. A breakdown by breeds is as follows:
12 Targhees averaged $271; 23 Rambouillets averaged $245; 38 Suffolk averaged $233; 37 Columbias averaged $200; 26 Hampshire averaged $244; 11 Montadales averaged $237; 2 Corriedales averaged $200; and 1 Crossbred at $160.

Which animals will need ID tags?
*All breeding sheep
*All sheep over 18 months of age
*All exposed, suspect, test positive and high risk animals
*Breeding goats, except low risk commercial goats
*Animals for exhibition
Notes:
* There are less stringent requirements for sheep and goats moving interstate for grazing or similar management without change of ownership.

What about tags?
The USDA will provide tags, without charge, to producers. Tags will be available through our Federal/State Veterinarian's offices (call 1-866-873-2824). Premise numbers will be assigned by them.

There are two different classes of tags:
1. USDA tags that are provided free to producers will be metal ear tags because of their low cost and durability; however, plastic ear tags may be provided when requested.
2. Sheep producers who prefer to use a different type of tag may purchase official tags through specified, approved tag companies. A list of approved tag companies and tag types will be maintained on the APHIS scrapie web page, www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/scrapie.

Tag pliers
Producers that request USDA provided tags during FY 2001 and 2002 will receive one tag pliers with their first order. They may buy additional pliers directly from the company if desired. Markets will be provided with a reasonable number of pliers for the number of animals tagged.

When should producers tag their animals?
As a practical matter, most producers will tag their animals just prior to shipment.

When can paint brands be used?
Paint brands may be used for animals from low-risk commercial flocks moving directly to slaughter and for grazing. This form of identification is only allowed in states that register brands.

Producers will be required to keep identification records for five years after the animal has left the flock/herd.
---> Call 866-873-2824 to get your premise ID number and order individual identification tags for the New Scrapie Rule <---
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