Shearers ReportWade Kopren

Vice-Chair American Wool Council

Summer Wool Council/Shearers Meeting – July 2015• Sheep shearing contractors from around the nation invited

• Targeted influential contractors

• Talked about their problems and challenges during the shearing season

• Identified ideas for progress in the industry

• Strengths – best equipment, US shearers take pride

• Weaknesses – Lack of qualified shearers, illegal labor, low wages, producer preparation

• Threats – sheep numbers dropping, H2A, Animal activists

Summer Wool Council/Shearers Meeting – July 2015

• Asked shearers “What can ASI do for you?”• Scrapie tags• Work permits• Shearing Schools• Classing Schools• Utilizing Sheep Industry News to

communicate to producers

Summer Wool Council/Shearers Meeting – July 2015• Funding issues for contractors that

are out of the Wool Councils hands and are normal costs of doing business

• Repairs to equipment

• Housing for hired shearers

• New equipment

• Assistance with work permits

• All things that affect typical businesses

Summer Wool Council/Shearers Meeting – July 2015• Outcomes

• Scrapie tag placement suggestion• Center of left ear when standing behind the animal and plastic

tags• Sponsoring advanced shearing training in Brush, CO • Skirting tables at discounted price• Shearers felt like their voice was being heard and have a collective

stake in the sheep industry• Shearers are concerned about the producers they work with (i.e.

prices of wool and lamb, grazing restrictions, and predator problems

Shearer’s Resolution from summer meeting:

• WHEREAS in the United States it is mandatory to tag an animal with a scrapie ear tag, which is available in both metal and plastic versions free of charge to the producer; WHEREAS metal ear tags are dangerous to shearers due to risk of injury to both the shearer and the sheep if the tag is caught in the comb and cutter from a lock-up; BE IT RESOLVED that the ASI Wool Council and the United States shearers request that all metal ear tags be removed from the supply in the United States and producers use the plastic tags that are available free of charge. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plastic tag should be placed towards the outside edge of the ear, approximately half way between the base and tip. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all new animals are to be tagged with the plastic tags.

Shearing Training

• Project leaders from SD

• Personnel from 5 states

• Lead instructor consistent in all schools

• Goal: strengthen and improve long-term sustainability of the sheep and wool industry's infrastructure

• Thank you to the Wool Council for the letter of support for the “Let’s Grow” application process

Progress to Date:

• Shearing equipment and tools purchased

• 5 shearing stands constructed

• Trailer for transport and storage purchased

• 3 schools completed

National Sheep Shearing Championships

• To be held in Rapid City, SD at the James Kirstead Event Center during the Sheep Day at the Blackhills Stockshow and Rodeo February 4th, 2016• Beginners• Intermediate• Professional• Wool Handling

• Thank you to the Wool Council for sponsoring the American Sheep Shearers Council annual meeting banquet and contest cash prizes• Meeting and banquet February 3rd, 2016