IARN — With so much focus on beef and pork and how those industries have been affected by COVID-19, it is easy to forget about some of our other commodities as well. Sheep is another red meat market that does not always get the attention that the others do, but those producers are facing the same trials. These challenges may be even harder on an industry that is two-sided with meat and wool.
Like many commodities, the sheep industry lost half of their demand when restaurants closed because of the pandemic. Unlike the others, this shutdown happened at the highest point in their marketing year, Passover and Easter. Just like with pork, the lack of demand and processing capabilities is creating a backlog for producers. Peter Orwick is Executive Director of the American Sheep Industry Association.
For more on this story, including comments from the Sheep Industry Association’s Peter Orwick, visit the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
