The sheep industry has had a few rough years in the US. For many small farmers, it was the end of the road. Others are holding on by their teeth, unwilling to throw in the towel and give up. Some of them are trying to understand what has changed and how to adapt their operations, by following the sheep industry news.
We are covering some of the critical challenges faced by farmers, such as:
1. The Impact of the Drought in the Great Basin
The severe drought that hit the Great Basin has forced many farmers to relocate their sheep for grazing. Some of these farmers lost livestock and others had to give them up, unable to care for them. The drought still has after-effects that ripple through the entire sheep industry.
2. Rising Production Costs
The difficult last years – including the COVID pandemic – have led to an increase in production cost for dairy products, mutton and wool. The consumers are now more careful than ever about every dollar they spend. Thus, for anyone in the sheep industry, the profits were greatly reduced – some farmers stating that they are barely breaking even.
3. Opportunities from Emerging Markets
There is not only bad news for the sheep industry. Emerging markets abroad are looking at the US as a key source of live sheep and mutton. For many farmers, export is one of the ways of staying in business during these challenging times.
