(December 1, 2009)  The New Mexico Wool Growers Association Inc. is the oldest livestock trade organization in New Mexico, in existence for close to 110 years. It provides the communication, lobbying and regulatory affairs arm for the industry, working on federal lands issues, predator issues and marketing issues, to name its major focuses. Because the land in New Mexico is 60-percent owned by some government entity, both state and federal, most ranches are commingled between private, federal and state government land. This can make it difficult to deal with issues like predator management, because it’s like a patchwork quilt of land ownership.

Why is the association an ASI Guard Dog member?
“We think that the efforts of ASI (American Sheep Industry Association) at the congressional level are extremely important. Because we have so many federal issues, we really appreciate the effort that ASI has done to support federal lands in the West. Without those efforts, I am not sure where the industry would be.”

How do you think the industry has benefited from Guard Dog funds?
“We’re still here. It’s those kinds of funds and those kinds of efforts that have allowed us to stay in the industry. We are still in business, and that says a lot.”

What do you think are the industry’s biggest needs for the future?
“Predators are the biggest issue that we are fighting today; if anything puts people out of business in New Mexico, its predators. A big challenge is just trying to keep people on the ground in the face of predators and endangered species. We have the red wolf in parts of the state, and there are plans to expand its territory to other parts of the state, so you add that into the predators that we already have, and that could be a turning point for the industry.”

Established in 2001, the Guard Dog Program utilizes the recommendations and donations of dedicated industry individuals to address a variety of issues. We hope you enjoy learning about these individuals, their businesses and their foresight for the U.S. sheep industry. If you would like to become a member of the Guard Dog Program, contact the American Sheep Industry Association.