6 years ago, a group of sheep producers reached out after the closing of a major US packing plant. At that time I sent a letter to former Vice President Mike Pence outlining the situation and asking for intervention. Cheap meat from other countries caused the lost revenue...in turn the shuttering of the plant. 3 years ago, again a group of us producers got together to make another run at this cheap imported meat. Hundreds of calls and thousands of hours later.... Yesterday was a culmination of the last 6 years. We spent all day in a hearing room at the International Trade Commission in Washington DC. Making our arguments. 13 countries plus the EU filed to oppose the US Sheep Producers in our plea to slow the flow of this cheap product that is damaging our food supply. Sheep ranchers from across the country on one side of the room.... and dozens of high priced attorneys, forign officials, Ivy league economists and corporate CEOs on the other..... In 1999, 30% of the lamb in the US came from imports. Today, 79% of the lamb consumed in the US comes from imports. The argument was injury.... how much forign pressure on a market constitutes injury to an industry. 20%, 30%, 50%, 79%..... When does injury begin. I will say the case went well we believe.... but that said. I had a stunning realization as we say there.... US farmers and Ranchers.... sitting in a room.... full of folks from other countries.... arguing over who gets access to OUR own market first! For far too long our trade policy has been.... make sure Americans get "a fair shake" at their own market. Instead of America First and forign imports can fill whats left. This is the trade policy we want to see and the only safe future for our country. A country that canot feed itself, can't stay a sovereign nation. Food security is national security and we had better start giving it the attention it deserves.