THE WASHINGTON STATE SHEEP PRODUCER PO Box 2145, Leavenworth, WA 98826 509-888-3003, wssp@gmx.com Volume 26, Issue 2 April 20, 2012 SPECIAL THANKS TO THE WASHINGTON WOOL GROWERS AUXILIARY FOR SPONSORING THIS NEWSLETTER Greetings WSSP Members, A Letter From Moxee... The past weekend we sure had some nice spring weather. It would even be nicer to experience some heavy spring showers. This past week we turned out our last group on to grass. We have less than 200 ewes left to lamb and our retirement herd, we will be heading back with them to Moxee l a t e r t h i s month. Nick is busy getting all the water situated for the sheep along with other hiccups that alw a y s c o m e up. While I and a few of our men finish cleaning up down here at the lambing operation. I am looking forward to some different scenery soon. Sooner than later that is, not long and we will be hauling to our Steve Vanderwerff, of Mount Vernon, during the first of two WSSP Shearing Schools. summer pasture in the forest. A never ending cycle, one I wouldn't change though. Hope all of your harvests are successful this season. Mark Martinez WSSP President Inside this issue: President s Message 1 Classified Ads 1 WWGA President Message 2 2012 Board & Officers 2 Show Ewe Lamb Sale Rules 3 Show Ewe Lamb Entry Form 4 New Member Welcome 4 Ram Sale Entry Form 5 Ram/Ewe Sale Ad Form 5 Corporate Sponsors 6-7 Sheep News 6-7 Upcoming Events 8 WSSP Board Meetings: Bar 14 Restaurant, Ellensburg unless noted April 28, 2012, Ellensburg September 29, 2012, Yakima October 25, Yakima CLASSIFIED ADS $.20 per word. Send payment with your ad to P.O. Box 2145, Leavenworth, WA 98826, (509) 888-3003 Here is your chance to advertise directly to Northwest sheep producers! Consider a reasonably priced ad in our sale catalog. Distributed to 350-400 sheep people each June including the entire WSSP membership, county sheep associations, WSU Cooperative Extension offices, industry related businesses, commercial sheep producers and former buyers. Ad form on page 5.
Page 2 THE WASHINGTON STATE SHEEP PRODUCER 2012 Board of Directors: District 1: Greg Hordyk, Arlington Al Schwider, Maple Valley District 2: Teri Blankinship, Winlock Pete Bowman, Chehalis District 3: Jerry Richardson, Moses Lake Pat Thoren, Moses Lake District 4: Sam Hays, Prosser A. Gene Fernandez, Sunnyside District 5: Les Boian, Springdale Andy Pille, Espanola District 6: Dick Appel, Endicott Jerry Kjack, Walla Walla At Large: Jim Acuff, Post Falls Todd Barth, Ephrata Gene Champion, Moses Lake Ross Merker, Rainier Milt Russell, Prosser Shearing School Coordinator: Sarah M. Smith, Moses Lake Hot Links American Sheep Industry: www.sheepusa.org www.americanlambboard.org Market Reports: www.ams.usda.gov USDA/Scrapie: www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ scrapie.htm, OR www.animalagriculture.org/ scrapie USDA News Releases: www.usda.gov/news/releases FSA Wool & Mohair details: ftp://ftp.fsa.usda.gov/public/ notices/lp_1891.pdf http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/ psd/mohair.htm NASS Sheep/Goat Statistics http://www.nass.usda.gov/ QuickStats/Create_Federal_All.jsp Washington State Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000. Greetings from Appel Valley Farm, To those of you who read my last letter your will remember I had a run-in with a feeder lamb a feed pan and my knee. I was told to stay off my feet for several months to let it heal. Well it didn t mend and only got worse so I had my third knee replacement the end of March. I am still pretty much off my feet and taking it easy and I did start physical therapy this week. I am hoping that I will eventually be well enough to get out to my yard. This past week we have had some warmer weather and was very tempting. Most of what needs done now requires a shovel so I know that is out. Thank goodness for my daughters four of them have been here at various times so they helped Mom, planted garden, got ready for Easter dinner and pulled dead things out of the flower beds. I really appreciate their help. Dick does too since he is the main cook. I am thinking that we will survive this. It seems we see thing differently when is comes to cooking, serving meals and doing dishes. Time to be thinking about the Make It With Wool contest. The flyers and entry blanks are now available. You may still find a few wool bargains. My daughter found some beautiful wool at sewing Expo for me. I may have to go through my patterns and get something started If you have questions don t hesitate to call or e-mail me or Susan Parr. Until next time, Helen Appel, WWGA President WSSP Annual Ram & Ewe Show & Sale Consignor Entry Form can be found on Page 5 of this issue. The form is due with associated fees by the MAY 25, 2012 ENTRY DEADLINE. A late fee of $25 applies to all entries received after this date. 2012 Show and Sale Rules are available on the WSSP website at www.wssp.org or contact the office to obtain a copy. The rules are updated each year, so please read them over before entering. WSSP 2012 Officers President Mark Martinez, Moxee, 509-574-4249 1st Vice-President Nick Martinez, Moxee, 509-453-6289 2nd Vice-President Julie Dashiell, Hunters, 509-528-1293 Past President Art Swannack, Lamont, 509-257-2683 Auxiliary President Helen Appel, Endicott, 509-397-3253 ASI Representative Art Swannack, Lamont Executive Secretary/Editor Marcia Parrish, Leavenworth, 509-888-3003, wssp@gmx.com
Volume 26, Issue 2 Page 3 Volume 26, Issue 2 1st Annual WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale Held in conjunction with the Northwest Jr. Sheep Expo and the Washington State Ram and Ewe Sale The Washington State Sheep Producers (WSSP) Show Ewe Lamb Sale is being establish as an incentive for youth and adults to offer for sale and to purchase high-quality show ewe lambs at the Washington Ram and Ewe Sale that will improve the overall quality of their flocks. Another goal of the program is for youth to purchase high quality show ewe lambs that can be exhibited at shows and to participate with purchased animals from the WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale class in an exclusive show futurity at the 2012 Northwest Jr. Sheep Expo (NWJSE). Consignors (youth or adults) will pay a $10 nomination fee that will be used in the premium pool for this program. Additional financial support from WSSP and Washington Wool Growers will be used to enhance the premium pool. Projected total premium purse will be $500, which is only available to females purchased from the 2012 WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale and exhibited in the NWJSE-WSSP Show Ewe Futurity class at the 2013 NWJSE. Rules: 1) Consignors (youth or adults) can enter up to one (1) ewe lamb in the WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale class. Adults must be a WSSP member in good standing. Youth need not be a member of WSSP, but must participate in the NWJSE to enter under a non WSSP member. Youth that are not exhibiting at the NWJSE can still participate in the class, but must have current youth of family WSSP membership. Youth membership is offered from the organization at $25 per year. This class is not the same as the sale ewe lamb entries for the Washington Ram and Ewe sale. Those entries must be made through the Washington State Ram and Ewe Sale. 2) Ewe lambs must be born after September 1, 2011 and have a full set of lambs teeth. Ewe lambs can be of any breed or crossbred. Registration papers are NOT required to participate in the WSSP Show Sale Ewe Lamb class. However, if a consignor would like to offer registrations papers for purebred animals they may accompany the animals, but transfer will be at the expense of the purchaser. 3) All females entered in the WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale class must pass the same health and structure sifting criteria as established for the Washington Ram and Ewe Sale. The Sale/Show Veterinarian has the final say on inspection and sifting. 4) All females entered in the WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale class will compete against each other regardless of breed or registration. Ewes will be evaluated against industry and/or breed standards for high quality structurally correct animals. Animals must be prepared and fitted in show condition for their appropriate breed and type. Meat breeds must be washed. Wool breeds should be presented to be able to evaluate wool quality. 5) Entry fee is $20 per head. The entry fee (for both youth and adults) includes sale entry fee, bedding fee, and a $10 futurity nomination fee. $10 from each entry collected will be used in the premium pool for the 2013 NWJSE -WSSP Show Ewe Futurity class, which is only open to ewes purchased from the 2011 WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale class. With added financial support from the WSSP and the WWGA, the projected premium/award purse for the 2013 Show Ewe Futurity will be $500. 6) If more than 12 ewe lambs are entered in the class, only the top 12 will sell. The $10 sale fee will be returned to consignors to ewe lambs not making the cut, however, the $10 nomination fee will be put in the premium/award pool. Ewe lambs not making the cut can be sold private treaty the DAY OF THE SALE (July 21, 2012), however the $10 sale fee and sale commission must be paid to the Washington Ram and Ewe Sale. Non-sale Show sale ewe lambs are not eligible for the 2012 show futurity class or premium pool. 7) Sale commission on any proceeds over $250 will be charged a commission of 10%. 8) Animals entered in the WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale class may be purchased by adults or youth. Youth wanting to show females in the 2013 NWJSE-WSSP Show Sale Ewe Futurity must purchase the ewe in the youth name (s) or FFA chapter s name. Families can place more than one youth name on a purchased ewe. Scrapie tag number and youth names will be used to identify WSSP Show Sale Ewe lambs at the 2013 NWJSE Show Sale Ewe Futurity. 9) Youth must be 21 years or younger and participate in the fitting and showing contest at the NWJSE to enter a WSSP Show Sale Ewe Lamb or NWJSE-WSSP Show Sale Futurity Ewe.
WSSP/NWJSE Show Ewe Lamb Entry Form Consignor Name Address City/State/Zip Telephone Email Website I understand and accept the 2012NWJSE/WSSP Show Ewe Lamb Sale Rules. Consignor signature: Send To: Northwest Jr. Sheep Exposition c/o WSU Grant/Adams Extension PO Box 37, Ephrata, WA 98837 Make Checks payable to: WSSP Entries Due June 1, 2012. No late entries. WSSP/NWJSE Show Ewe Lamb Associate Members Columbia Basin Sheep Producers 719 S. Poplar Moses Lake, WA 98837 509-765-7974 Kittitas County Sheep Producers 440 Robinson Canyon Rd. Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-925-2620 Spokane Area Sheep Producers 16413 W. Stoughton Rd. Cheney, WA 99004 509-299-3706 Southwest Washington Sheep Producers 173 Bay Road Winlock, WA 98596 360-785-3892 Whitman County Woolgrowers 752 Lanky Road Colfax, WA 99111 Utah Wool Marketing Assoc. 55 S. Iron St., Suite 2, Bldg. 657 Tooele, UT 84074 435-842-4234 WSSP is in need of a ewe lamb for our Youth Scholarship Program. If you re interested in donating a lamb, please contact Marcia at 509-888-3003 wssp@gmx.com Membership Information We welcome the following new members: John & Annette Rustemeyer, Sprague Scott & Gera Clemenson, Sprague Nick Nelson, Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton, OR Annual dues for regular or associate members are $50.00. Junior members $25.00. WSSP, P.O. Box 2145, Leavenworth, WA 98826, 509-888-3003, wssp@gmx.com
Farm Name Consignor Name July 21, 2012 Moses Lake Address City/State/Zip Telephone Email Website I understand and accept the 2012 Ram Sale Rules. Consignor signature: Washington State Sheep Producers 2012 Ram & Ewe Show & Sale Entry Form Entries Due May 25, 2012. Late entries accepted until June 5 with $25 additional fee. Do any of these consigned sheep have a lienholder? Yes No If yes, name and address Number of Head Animal s Age/Description Breed(s) Number of Head Animal s Age/Description Breed(s) ALL ENTRIES MUST HAVE SCRAPIE TAGS. Entry Fees, bedding fees and 2012 WSSP dues of $50 (if not previously paid) are due with this form. Class/Division Number/head Totals Commercial Rams @ $12/head = $ (rams >6 mos. must test neg. for B.ovis) Commercial Ewes @ $7.50/hd = $ (pen lots of 3, 5 or 10 only) Bedding Fee @ $2.00/hd = $ WSSP Dues @ $50 = $ Total Amount Enclosed = $ I would like to donate a ewe lamb for the Youth Scholarship Program. 2012 Sale Rules are at www.wssp.org or get a copy by contacting sale secretary at 509-888-3003 / wssp@gmx.com Office use: membership current entry fees paid catalog ad E-mail confirmation DB Ram & Ewe Show & Sale Catalog Advertising Form Farm Name: E-Mail: Name: Address: City/St/Zip Phone: Advertising Space for Display Ads Only: Business Card 3 1/2 wide x 1 1/2 high $20 x = Half Page 5 wide x 3 1/2 high $35 x = Full Page 5 wide x 7 high $50 x =
Page 6 Sheep Education Catalog Available As part of the American Sheep Industry Association's (ASI) Let's Grow initiative, a Sheep Education Catalog has been developed and is now available. This catalog is a compilation of industry resources, both national and international, in which to gain information about sheep production, health issues, lamb and wool management, targeted grazing and more topics in way of online learning, university courses, workshops and webinars. As this information is dynamic, updates to the catalog will be made regularly. Readers are encouraged to contact the author at parsons@optimalag.com with course title, sponsor and website or descriptive information for new course listings and course updates for the next edition. "We have a large amount of educational options available for new sheep producers and producers looking to ehance management strategies," stated Clint Krebs, chair of the ASI initiative. "Online courses and webinars, as well as resource books that you don't have to leave the farm or ranch to participate in, plus on ground schools and workshops are available coast to coast." The catalog is available to download at www.growourflock.org/resources. This work was made possible through a National Sheep Industry Improvement Center grant and ASI. THE WASHINGTON STATE SHEEP PRODUCER U.S. Per Capita Meat Consumption Slips April 13, 2012 High feed prices, the economic recession and drought in the Southern Plains of the United States have combined to cut into producer returns and lowered production incentives in the livestock sector during the past several years. As a result of declines in meat production, plus strong meat exports, consumer meat prices have increased and per capita consumption in the United States has decreased, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS). Annual average consumption of red meat and poultry is predicted to decrease from the more than 221 lbs. per capita recorded from 2004-2007 to a projection of less than 200 lbs. from 2012-2014. However, with feed costs anticipated to decline from recent highs, improved net returns in the livestock sector provide economic incentives for expansion of meat and poultry production for the rest of the decade, ERS relays. By 2021, as production increases, per capita consumption of red meat and poultry is expected to increase to about 213 lbs. Reprinted in part from meatpoultry.com Let our grower-owned consignment Warehouse market your wool to the world. Will Hart Griggs, Manager (435) 843-4284 ~ Fax: (435) 843-4286 55 S. Iron St., Suite 2-Building 657, Tooele, UT 84074 utahwool@wirelessbehive.com
Volume 26, Issue 2 Page 7 Volume 26, Issue 2 Separate Texas Fine Wools; They May be Worth The severe drought in Texas this year caused a shift in sheep production. Many producers throughout the country stepped up to help the Texas sheep producers by working out pasture leases, flock leases and even purchase agreements to keep Texas genetics in production. Traditionally, Texas sheep are known to have finer-micron wool than sheep from some other regions and that fine wool is in demand. Therefore, with this year's record wool prices, the American Wool Council (AWC) stresses that as the shearing season continues, producers who bought or are managing these flocks should handle this wool differently than their traditional clip. This practice could increase the value of the wool if from quality sheep with fine-wool genetics. The companies that traditionally buy the Texas-type wools from specific customers will want to continue to gather these wools even though they are no longer calling the Lone Star State home. "Producers should note that finer-micron wools of some volume can bring a higher value if they are prepared properly and separated. In addition, we want to keep these finer-wool genetics in production and the wools in the market because they are vital for export and some of the military contracts, which are important to our industry," says Larry Pilster, chair of the AWC.
Page 8 THE WASHINGTON STATE SHEEP PRODUCER 2012 Calendar of Events WSSP Board Meeting, Ellensburg April 28 Spring Youth Fair, Chehalis May 11-13 Puget Sound Jr. Livestock Show, Mt. Vernon June 1-2 Northwest Jr. Sheep Expo, Moses Lake July 20-21 WSSP Ram & Ewe Sale, Moses Lake July 20-21 Palouse Empire Fair, Colfax September 4-9 Spokane Interstate Fair September 7-16 Puyallup Fair, Sheep Events September 19-23 Central Washington State Fair, Yakima September 28-October 7 WSSP Board Meeting, Yakima September 29 Washington State Sheep Producers P.O. Box 2145 Leavenworth, WA 98826