BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. – Several listening sessions are set to receive direct feedback from lamb producers in the coming months for the potential of a subsidized production insurance for lambs in the U.S.
According to a Wyoming Wool Growers Association post on social media, the economic consulting firm Watts and Associates, which specializes in agriculture risk management innovation, reached out to South Dakota Sheep Growers Association, Wyoming Wool Growers Association and Montana Wool Growers Association about a listening session in Belle Fourche to provide input on a potential federal lamb insurance program.
The firm has been contracted by the USDA Risk Management Agency to evaluate the feasibility of offering subsidized production insurance for U.S. lamb producers.
The form this insurance may take, if it is indeed feasible to offer, has not been determined and they are interested in input from state associations and their respective memberships. Risks that might be covered range from predation losses, diseases, cost of gain, margins, rate of gain, to price fluctuations and others members may suggest.
The results and recommendations from their study will be submitted to the USDA RMA and the FCIC for consideration of offering a lamb insurance product.
Dates for the listening session begin on December 7th at the Branding Iron 19079 US HWY 85, in Belle Fourche, S.D. 57717. Those in person attendees will be served a buffet dinner at 6 PM MST that Thursday night with the listening session set to begin at 7 PM.
The next listening session will be held in in San Angelo, Texas on December 9th and wrap up in Denver, Colo., during the American Sheep Industry Association Annual Convention, January 10-13, 2024.
In addition, there will be a national virtual listening session with a date to be determined.
Those interested in attending any of the listening sessions can register here.
