| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Marty Earnheart |
| September 9, 2008 | (406) 444-3144 |
Canadian Buyers to Return to Ram Sale
HELENA, Mont. —Five Canadian sheep producers plan to attend the Montana Ram Sale in Miles City on September 11, 2008, according to the Montana Department of Agriculture.
"We have hosted Canadian producers in the past and they have been a big part of making the ram sale a success. We hope to begin to re-establish our trade relations with the sheep producers of Canada after several years of uncertainty." says department Director Ron de Yong.
The Montana Woolgrowers Association sponsors the annual Montana Ram Sale. The average price for rams sold at the sale for 2007 was $599.
In 2001, the first year of the international marketing effort, five Canadian buyers attended the sale and purchased 13 rams. In 2002 and 2003, 45 rams were purchased by Canadian buyers, and others have been purchased by private contract with Montana producers.
For more information about the department's livestock and meat marketing efforts, contact Marty Earnheart in the Agricultural Development Division at (406) 444-9126 or by e-mail at mearnheart@mt.gov.
