October 2, 2026

201 TRADE CASE UPDATE

CASE MILESTONES

Thank you to all members that answered our call to action to contact their Members of Congress about the 201 Trade Case. Your voice made a difference in the amount of signatures our team gathered. As of yesterday evening, the list of signatories to the letter totals 57 signatures!

The Daines/Maloy teams leading the effort have extended the sign-on deadline to Monday, October 5th, and plan to send the letter to the ITC the following Tuesday morning. ASI and Cornerstone will continue working behind the scenes to collect more signatures. 

The next milestone is the International Trade Commission (ITC) hearing on October 16 to determine injury. ASI has been actively engaged with its legal team, preparing to present a strong case. The hearing will be available to view at the button below:

ASI FUNDRAISING

ASI continues to raise funds through the ASI Guard Dog Fund to support the legal and economic work necessary to pursue the Section 201 case. Producers and industry supporters who want to help strengthen this effort can contribute specifically to the Section 201 Trade Case.

To stay informed of developing information, follow ASI on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and on our website. 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Registration is now open for the 2027 Annual Convention in Charleston, SC.

Join us for our annual gathering January 13-16, 2027.

Michener Visits Pipestone, South Dakota Producers, and SDSGA Annual Convention

ASI Executive Director Mike Michener traveled to the region in September for a series of meetings focused on producer education, flock development and the work of the South Dakota Sheep Growers Association.

The visit included a stop at the farm of Alex and Katherine Moser in Lester, Iowa, where Michener discussed the Pipestone Lamb and Wool Management Program and saw firsthand how producers are applying management practices and educational resources in a commercial operation. The farm visit provided an opportunity to talk about flock productivity, producer education and the importance of connecting practical on-farm experience with technical support and research.

Following the farm visit, Michener traveled to Pipestone, Minnesota, for lunch with Pipestone Director Philip Berg and Dr. Craig Peters, Dean of Management, Career & Technical Programs at Minnesota West Community & Technical College. Their discussion focused on the Pipestone program, its role in producer education and workforce development, and the value of maintaining strong links between sheep producers, technical education and the broader industry.

Michener then participated in the 2026 South Dakota Sheep Growers Association Annual Convention, where he provided an update on ASI priorities and ongoing work on behalf of sheep producers. His remarks covered ASI’s strategic planning, the Section 201 lamb trade case, animal health, labor, federal policy, wool programs and efforts to identify new opportunities for industry growth.

The convention also featured the Master Lamb Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement within South Dakota’s sheep industry. The photo below captures one of the award presentations with Justin and Crissa Fruechte as the plaque is presented.

“Visits like this are one of the most valuable parts of my job,” Michener said. “You can discuss policy and programs in Washington or from the ASI office, but spending time with producers and seeing programs like Pipestone in action provides a much clearer picture of what is working, what producers need, and where ASI can help. I appreciated the hospitality from Alex and Katherine Moser, Philip Berg, Dr. Craig Peters and everyone at the South Dakota Sheep Growers Association.”

The visit reinforced the value of close coordination among producers, educational institutions, state associations and ASI as the industry works to strengthen sheep production and create opportunities for future growth.

ASI Small & Midsize Mill Meetup Report Available 

ASI and the ASI Wool Council were proud to bring together small and midsize wool mill owners from across the United States this summer. "The Small & Midsize Mill Meetup was about bringing mills together to share ideas, learn from one another, troubleshoot challenges and find solutions. When we connect, collaborate and learn together, we strengthen not only individual small mills, but the future of the U.S. wool industry.” said Julie Hansmire, ASI Wool Council Chair.  



To learn more about the ASI Mill Meetup and key takeaways, click the button below.

First Wild Screwworm Fly Detected in Texas Since 
Outbreak Began

The US Department of Agriculture has caught its first wild screwworm fly since the parasite was detected in the country’s livestock nearly four months ago, signaling the potential for continued spread even as overall cases have remained muted.

The wild screwworm fly was detected in Brewster County, Texas, on Friday. It was caught in one of the USDA’s more than 100 screwworm-specific fly traps along the US border.

ASI continues to be in regular communications with federal leaders at USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regarding issues that have arisen since the first detection. 

ASI developed a NWS sheep producer guide and treatment info resource that you may access here. The guide is also available in Spanish.

All of ASI’s resources and links to additional information at USDA and FDA can be found on our website here.

Current Status (as of September 30):

• 3 active cases
• 48 inactive cases
• Most recent detection: September 26, 2026

Find more information at screwworm.gov.

China Proposes List of Wool and Cashmere Fibers Under the "30-FOR-30” Tariff Reductions 

On September 27, 2026, The United States and China reached an understanding on the “30-for-30” framework to be operationalized by the U.S.-China Board of Trade.

Previously, the United States and China agreed to establish a government-to-government “U.S.-China Board of Trade.” The two sides also agreed that the initial focus of the Board of Trade is to be on a dialogue to consider lists of mutually agreed upon imported goods totaling roughly $30 billion on each side, with a view toward providing reduced tariff treatment to those goods in a reciprocal manner. The two sides further agreed to work expeditiously to identify certain goods for inclusion in the “30-for-30” framework.

Wool products, including greasy and scoured wool, are among those proposed for reduced Chinese import tariffs when imported from the United States. The U.S. exported approximately 2.7 million pounds of American wool to China in 2025 and 4.6 million pounds in 2024.

Farmers are Pairing Crops with Solar Panels

Traditionally, solar panel farms are quiet — save for the faint hum of the inverter. But on about one in 10 of American solar farms, there's a new sound reverberating through fields: baaaa. 

Letting sheep roam under solar panels is just one of many forms of a burgeoning strategy called agrivoltaics, where crops grow or livestock graze in tandem with renewable energy infrastructure. It's not only of potential benefit for the animals, which get additional shade. The panels can also protect crops from the elements as well as divert water to them, creating cooler, damper conditions that even boost yields. 

And even the solar panels themselves tend to respond well to this co-existence — as the cooler they are, the more electricity they produce per watt of sunlight.

Ultra-Black Wool Turns Saltwater into Drinking Water

Specially dyed wool could be a low-cost, biodegradable material for producing potable water from saltwater using only sunlight. The material reflects less than 0.5% of visible light falling on it and helps to purify saltwater by evaporating it. It produces water that exceeds both World Health Organization and Environment Protection Agency drinking-water standards, says Larissa Shepherd, a professor of human centered design at Cornell University. Shepherd and her colleagues reported their new ultrablack solar water evaporator in the journal Advanced Science.

Bleu du Maine U.S. Registry Established to Support Breed Expansion & Preservation

The RSG Foundation has announced the establishment of the Bleu du Maine U.S. Registry, a new national breed registry created to support the introduction, preservation, documentation and responsible expansion of Bleu du Maine sheep genetics in the U.S.

The registry is being launched as part of the RSG Foundation's Breed Expansion and Preservation Initiative, designed to help expand access to unique livestock genetics while providing emerging and limited-population breeds in the United States with the organizational infrastructure, education and breeder networks needed for long-term development.

Upcoming Sheep Shearing Schools

Shearing schools are getting rolling all across the U.S. and several have let ASI know their plans. 

Reach out to ASI to add your shearing school to our list and to order educational shearing materials at heather@sheepusa.org!

ASI is working year-round to advance producer priorities across the country. 
Here’s what’s happening, what it means, and what’s next.

USDA Announces New Animal Welfare Initiatives

On September 21, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins held a Strikeforce roundtable to announce new standards for animal welfare, including new training and staff for continuous facility monitoring and increased public awareness campaigns to protect companion animals. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S.  Attorney's Office of the District of Columbia, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and DOJ OIG all participated in the event. As part of the event, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced the launch of a new webpage for public tracking of research supporting human testing and reduced unnecessary animal testing. The Administration’s new companion animal welfare initiatives include strengthening Animal Welfare Act (AWA) standards for dogs, delivering refresher notices to breeders more regularly, deploying welfare watchdogs to increase compliance, and increasing Inspector General staffing.

For more information, see the official press release here.

Your weekly snapshot of key market rates and reports (U.S. and global) to help you stay ahead of pricing and demand shifts.

Wool Markets Dip

The EMI dropped $0.19 this week with losses seen across all microns. Compared to last season, 9% fewer bales have been offered in Australian markets. 

About the EMI: The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) is the key benchmark index of Australian wool auction prices and is widely used as a global wool market indicator.

Source: AWEX

LDP Payments Available This Week

Ungraded Wool, Grease Prices in $ Per Pound

Unshorn Pelts, Prices in $ Per Pelt

Note: Producers must visit their Farm Service Agency office and fill out the appropriate paperwork before the wool or unshorn lambs are sold to claim the Wool LDP (when available). 

USDA Weekly Sheep, Lamb, & Wool Market Summary

The report is generally updated on Friday afternoon.

NCAT Wool Quality Improvement Program

The NCAT Wool Quality Improvement Program is a multi-state initiative designed to strengthen U.S. wool markets by supporting sheep producers with direct funding, technical assistance, and market-building resources. The program helps producers improve wool quality, implement on-farm conservation practices, and access new and expanded markets for American wool and wool products. NCAT and its partners, Fibershed and New York Fibershed, will be working to expand wool markets in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New York, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

The program will work with 100 wool producers until March 31, 2028, providing funding and technical support to implement practices, improve fiber quality, and develop market-ready wool and wool products.

ASI is so thankful for our industry partners and magazine advertisers! Their support not only strengthens our work in Washington, D.C. but also supports a number of programs that are important to the sheep industry.

Want to support ASI and reach American wool and lamb producers? Contact our Director of Communications, Morgan Young at Morgan@sheepusa.org.

Oct 2: North Dakota Lamb & Wool Annual Convention, Bottineau, ND- More info

Oct 2: National Ram & Ewe Sale, Herber City, UT - More info

Oct 8: Roswell Wool Sale - More info

Oct 8: Utah Ram Sale, Spanish Fork, UT - More info

Oct 8: Optimizing sheep nutrition – Virtual Series – Session 1- More info

Oct 9: Wild & Domestic Sheep Film Screenings, Moscow ID - More info

Oct 10: Texas LGD Association Field Day, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame - More info

Oct 10: Sheep, Lamb, Wool, and Ewe!, Univ. of ID - More info

Oct 10: Hoosier Sheep Symposium, Vincennes, IN - More info

Oct 14: Sheep & Goat Nutrition Webinar with UMN and OSU - More info

Oct 14: Montana Wool Harvesting School, Billings, MT - More info

Oct 15: Montana Wool Harvesting School Beginner School, Billings, MT - More info
Oct 15: Optimizing sheep nutrition – Virtual Series – Session 2 - More info

Oct 16: Sheep IQ: Improving Production Efficiencies, Cedar City, UT - More info

Oct 16: Oklahoma State Univ. Meat Goat & Sheep Boot Camp, Ada, OK - More info

Oct 22: Optimizing sheep nutrition – Virtual Series – Session 3 - More info

New Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

ASI is so thankful for our industry partners and magazine advertisers! Their support not only strengthens our work in Washington, D.C. but also supports a number of programs that are important to the sheep industry. Want to support ASI and reach American wool and lamb producers? Contact our Director of Communications, Morgan Young at Morgan@sheepusa.org

ASI operates in accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture civil rights regulations and policies, and complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it under these. ASI is an equal opportunity employer and provider.