Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., are urging a sheep industry organization to raise a cap on a loan that would allow the Mountain States Lamb Cooperative (MSLC) to complete a deal that will renew a vision for the domestic lamb industry.

In a Nov. 14 letter to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, the senators urged the Center to accept a proposal to raise a current cap on loans from the Sheep and Goat Fund from $1 million per organization to $2.5 million.

Thomas and Enzi said raising the cap would allow the Mountain States Lamb Cooperative to finish its purchase of a portion of a meat processing and distribution company. The senators noted the purchase would ensure a dedicated market for the MSLC's lamb products. The MSLC is based in Wyoming and has members from 10 different western states.

Thomas and Enzi were joined by Senators Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, both R-Idaho, and Max Baucus, D-Mont.

The text of the letter is included below.

November 15, 2002

Pierce Miller
Chairman
National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors
P.O. Box 23483
Washington, DC 20026-3483

Dear Chairman:

On November 18, 2002, the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors will consider a proposal to raise the present cap of $1 million per organization to $2.5 million on loans from the Sheep & Goat Fund.

We urge the Board's acceptance of this proposal, specifically as it applies to the Mountain States Lamb Cooperative's loan application. It is the stated mission of the National Livestock Producers Association's Sheep & Goat Fund to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and goats and their products in the United States by encouraging innovation and efficiency within the industries. The Mountain States Lamb Cooperative (MSLC) is purposefully moving forward to achieve these industry goals and should be fully assisted by the Sheep & Goat Fund.

MSLC sprang directly from lamb producers' desire to revitalize their own flagging industry in 1999. MSLC is developing a vertically integrated marketing system using a grid-based pricing system and quality assessment imaging technology. A crucial step in vertical integration is MSLC's buying into B. Rosen and Sons, a meat processing and distribution company that sells approximately 25% of all domestic fabricated lambs.

The Board's raising of the cap would allow MSLC to complete the purchase of 50% of B. Rosen and Sons and guarantee a market for lambs committed to the cooperative. This project clearly targets the purposes of the Sheep & Goat Fund as it directly enhances and innovates the marketing of sheep and their products.

MSLC also represents a substantial portion of the western lamb production industry. MSLC currently has 125 members from ten western states with 400,000 committed lambs.

We urge raising the current loan cap to $2.5 million. Raising the cap is a reasonable action that acknowledges the scope of MSLC's membership and renews a vision for the domestic lamb industry.

Mike Enzi                           Craig Thomas

United States Senator    United States Senator