Indiana sheep and wool checkoff begins

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Sheep and wool purchased by handlers in Indiana will begin assessment for the state checkoff program starting Dec. 1, to fund the state’s newly created Sheep and Wool Market Development Program.

The program was first proposed in July of 2012 when a petition was delivered to Purdue University’s Office of the Dean of Agriculture with signatures from nearly 6 percent of the state’s known sheep producers.

The Office of Agricultural Research at Purdue, or ARP, administered the petition, registration and referendum process, which led to the establishment of the checkoff June 20.

The program officially began July 1 with the agreement that the checkoff assessment would begin once remittance forms were approved.

Those forms, along with more information about the program, have been mailed to the state’s sheep and wool handlers.

The amount

When wool or sheep are sold, half of one percent will be deducted from the net market price for the checkoff assessment.

The goals of the Sheep and Wool Market Development Program include supporting sheep and wool research, encouraging consumer education about lamb and wool products and stressing market development, including producer education and sales promotion.

Questions about the program or the checkoff assessment should be directed Fankhauser at 765-494-8368 or agresearch@purdue.edu.