SHEEP OWNERS URGED TO VOTE IN NATIONAL REFERENDUM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 1996

Fairbanks, Alaska - Sheep owners in Alaska are urged to participate in a national referendum Tuesday, Feb. 6. If passed, the referendum will allow for a mandatory assessment on all sheep and wool sold in the U.S.

According to University of Alaska Fairbanks Extension Livestock Specialist Ken Krieg, the money from a check-off program proposed in the referendum will fund sheep industry promotion and research.

Krieg says the grass-roots initiative came about as a result of private sheep owners working with congressional leaders to pass the Sheep Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1994. The bill cleared the way for this year's referendum vote. Anyone engaged in sheep production, sheep feeding, or importation of sheep or sheep products during the period of Jan. 1, 1994, through Dec. 31, 1994, is eligible to vote.

Importers who imported only raw wool during the representative period are not eligible to vote. Sheep owners, lamb feeders and importers throughout the nation will cast ballots at their local Cooperative Extension offices.

Krieg says the proposed check-off program is similar to those already in place for beef cattle and hogs. The sheep referendum would require sellers to pay a penny-a-pound for every live sheep and two cents for every pound of "greasy" wool sold.

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Like the cattle and hog programs, the money collected from the sheep and wool check-off would go into a national fund administered by sheep owners, lamb feeders and importers elected by their peers. The funds could only be used for sheep promotion, research or information activities and could not be used for lobbying or other political purposes.

According to Krieg, balloting on Feb. 6 will be during normal working hours at various offices of the Alaska Cooperative Extension located throughout the state. If a polling place is forced to close due to inclement weather, voting will take place on the first day the office re-opens. Absentee votes can be cast by requesting a ballot from the local extension office.

Ballot requests must be in writing, signed by the voter, and received by extension no later than Jan. 25. The vote then cast by the absentee voter must reach the extension office no later than Feb. 2 to be counted.

For more information, contact the local Alaska Cooperative Extension Office or Ken Krieg at (907) 474-6357.

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CONTACT: UAF Extension Livestock Specialist Ken Krieg, (907) 474-6357.

DPD/1-10-96/96-44