According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the country’s sheep flock will continue to decline during 2003, leading to an 8% decrease in meat production and higher lamb prices.

The USDA has introduced assistance programmes to improve the sector, including the $100 million three-year Lamb Assistance Package, which includes direct payments to sheep producers, animal health initiatives, marketing and promotion programmes and government purchases of lamb. The Wool Subsidy Programme, meanwhile, has been reintroduced for the 2002-2007 wool production seasons.

The USDA expects US lamb imports to increase 2% during 2003. Australian imports are expected to sustain US lamb prices at between $83 and $85/hundred weight – an increase of 17% compared with 2002.

Share this story: