America’s sheep producers like many in agriculture have felt the effects of the drought this year. American Sheep Industry Association Executive Director Peter Orwick says lambs have gone to market earlier than normal and producers are trying to find affordable feed sources.

He says feed costs have gone up significantly due to the drought.

Orwick says despite the drought, the good news is that lamb producers continue to see increased demand for lamb meat.

Dollar sales of lambs in the first quarter of 2021 increased 19.8 percent and volume sales increased 11. 8 percent. Last year, lamb dollar sales increased nearly 25 percent from 2019.