Items Tagged with 'sheep'

The fate of a 500,000-head capacity Superior Farms plant, estimated to represent between 15% and 20% of the nation’s total lamb processing capacity, will soon be in Denver voters’ hands as they consider a referendum that would shut down its operations by 2026 and ban any future meatpacking businesses from entering the city and county.

In response to stories of abuse from sheep herders who come to the western United States on H-2A visas, an advocacy nonprofit and two public interest law firms have filed suit against Western Range Association. Western Range Association perceives, however, that that the "filing of this lawsuit and the timing, may be an attempt to utilize the press to gain a litigation advantage in another pending matter.”

California sheep ranchers have filed a complaint against the state for including their workers in the agriculture overtime law that took effect for smaller employers this month.

An environmentally concerned fashion company and a fifth-generation rancher are the opposite end points on a short line that connects a luxury brand with sustainable agriculture.

Representatives of California’s sheep industry are appealing to Senate Pro tem Toni Atkins for relief from the state’s new agricultural overtime law.

After last year’s lamb market collapsed around the biggest sales period of the year, producers are optimistic as retail prices hold steady and market prices climb, but a big question will be the reopening of restaurants.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan, landmark bill to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which taps oil and gas revenue to pay for acquiring new federal lands.

The Senate is set this week to pass a landmark land conservation bill over the objections of cattle producers, and President Donald Trump’s trade chief will face questioning by Senate and House panels.

Shutting down, slowing processing line speeds, and reducing work hours is becoming a reality for livestock processors as more workers contract COVID-19, and ag economists argue timing of closures in the coming weeks is everything.