(NAFB.com) – Leaders and staff from the American Sheep Industry Association met last week with a top U.S. Department of Agriculture official to urge the inclusion of wool under the new Farmer Bridge Assistance program. The group met in Washington with USDA Farm Production and Conservation Under Secretary Richard Fordyce following the department’s December announcement of $12 billion for the program. Of that total, $11 billion is earmarked for one-time payments to traditional row crop producers, while $1 billion is reserved for commodities not otherwise covered, such as specialty crops and sugar. Livestock and meat products are excluded. During the meeting, ASI presented testimony detailing ongoing market disruptions, high harvesting costs and persistently low wool prices that sheep producers have faced since 2019. USDA officials said wool would be considered for funding through the program’s competitive reserve for uncovered commodities, though no final decisions have been made. The department also said timelines for potential payments to producers not currently eligible for assistance remain under development, with further details expected in the coming weeks.