Sheep growers have been suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic since early March. Both the lamb and the wool industry have been hammered economically. American Sheep Industry Association Executive Director Peter Orwick says starting in early March, lamb growers lost more than half of their restaurant markets due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He says lambs have been getting backed up due to the processing plant shutdowns or temporary closings.

Orwick says the wool market is also suffering due to a higher U.S. dollar as well as the COVID 19 pandemic.

Orwick says ASI is grateful Congress included sheep growers in the latest stimulus package for COVID 19 relief as part of the livestock funding.