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Join American Mulefoot Breeders Association today
Working to preserve and promote the American Mulefoot Hog.
COVID AWARENESS & LINKS TO HELP
A Note From The Livestock Conservancy
To our members, friends, family and community,
During this uncertain time we want to reach out to you with a quick update about The Livestock Conservancy’s COVID-19 response and a reminder that we are all in this together. We recognize the considerable weight placed upon our farmers and other essential personnel during this time. You are our most important partners for rare breed conservation and we want to support the work you are doing to help our country in this time of need.
We remain dedicated to protecting endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction, even during this pandemic. Our operations are continuing as normally as possible as we follow the ever-changing guidelines of our state and country to keep everyone safe.
Below are some helpful links for farmers and consumers as we navigate our changing future:
Buying and Selling Local Meat and Products
- Where to buy local map in NC and SC: https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/on-farm-pickups/
- Heritage Breed Marketplace: https://heritagebreedmarketplace.com/
- Heritage Breeders and Products Directory: https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/breeders-directory
- USDA list of farmers markets across the US: https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets
- Farmers Market Coalition: https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/farmers-markets-covid19/
- Direct Sales Software Platforms list from the Young Farmers Coalition: https://livestockconservancy.org/images/uploads/docs/Farm-direct-sales-software.pdf
- Meredith Lee’s resource list for consumers and farmers: http://www.mereleighfood.com/accessing-local-meat-during-covid19-and-beyond
- Food Animal Concerns Trust Local Vendor Directory: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d30c09893fc08d22e87aaf/t/5e8f31f7408bde73997b5c26/1586442764007/Food-Vendor-Directory.pdf
- Niche Meat Processing: https://www.nichemeatprocessing.org/
- Fiber Artists Market: https://fiberartistmarket.com/
Webinars and Online Learning Opportunities
- Food Animal Concerns Trust Webinars: https://foodanimalconcernstrust.org/webinars
- Cornell Small Farms Classes: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/online-courses/
- 2020 Piedmont Regional Goat & Sheep Conference Webinar Series: First Aid & Lambing/Kidding on YouTube https://youtu.be/40VUTaQTlto, for handouts and presentation use this Google folder
Emergency Resources, Grants and Relief Funds
- The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) ATTRA program has resources for farmers, ranchers, market gardeners, extension agents, researchers, educators, farm organizations and others affected by the pandemic. www.Attra.ncat.org/topics
- Carolina Farm Stewardship Association posted an article about COVID-19 Relief Funds Available to Farmers Starting April 3: https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/covid-19-relief-funds-available-to-farmers-starting-apr-3/
- RAFI-USA will be issuing emergency mini-grants to North Carolina farmers impacted by COVID-19: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCiknAA89yeGNwCd1WBjIVTHk01yVQiJ5wMCKCGKpdaO0esg/viewform
- American Farmland Trust Farmer Relief Fund: https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund/
- Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) has a new mini-grant program for livestock and poultry producers: https://foodanimalconcernstrust.org/minigrants
- CARES Act Emergency Resources for Farm Businesses Paycheck Protection Loan Program: https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/business-financing/coronavirus-emergency-loans
- Food Animal Concerns Trust Mini Grants: https://foodanimalconcernstrust.org/minigrants
- Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund: https://www.ccof.org/ccof-foundation/bricmont-hardship-assistance-fund
To support Livestock Conservancy farmers and members, donate to our Emergency
Species Specific Resources
- National Hog Farmer: https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/business/managing-markets-farm-business-during-covid-19
- Center for Dairy Excellence: https://www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/covid-19-farm-resources/
American Horse Council: https://www.horsecouncil.org/covid-19-resouces/ - Shearing Operations - Protocols in response to COVID-19: https://c8e3i7k7.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-COVID-19-SHEARING-OPERATIONS-PROTOCOLS-IN-RESPONSE-TO-COVID-19-FROM-WESTERN-AUSTRALIA-MARCH-27.pdf
Other Helpful Resources
- NC State Extension resources for farmers and consumers: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/covid-19-resources/
- Carolina Farm Stewards resources for consumers and farmers: https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/coronavirus-resources/
- Cornell Small Farms Program: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/
- Farmer Veteran Coalition: https://farmvetco.org/
National Resources
- USDA: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus
- USDA Farmers.Gov: https://www.farmers.gov/coronavirus
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: https://www.hhs.gov/
- U.S. Small Business Administration: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/280e196
State Resources
- Check your state’s Department of Agriculture website.
COVID-19 and Animals
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#anchor_1584390773118
- AVMA: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19
- World Organization for Animal Health: https://www.oie.int/en/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/
- International Livestock Research Institute: https://www.ilri.org/zoonoses
Schedules are continually changing. Before attending an upcoming event, please check our calendar page and with event organizers for the most current information, including cancellations, re-scheduling, news and updates.
We are still available by phone, email and social media, if you need to contact us. We hope you will reach out with questions or comments about how we can continue to support you during this time.
Thank you for being a valued part of The Livestock Conservancy community. We hope you will continue to stay safe, healthy and well.
From the Chairman
Due to the Kansas temporary stay at home order, Registry is limited to one person processing memberships and registrations. Delays are inevitable, but we are working through every envelope and email as quickly as humanly possible.
The main "office" of AMBA is working on catching up business, but still running a bit behind.
Thank you for your patience. Stay safe and much success. Gracie Cardwell
FROM REGISTRY (AMBA's Herd Book Registry Staff:
Thank you for your understanding during our stay at home order. It was greatly appreciated.
Just letting you know as of Monday, May 4th our staff is back in the office full time as our stay at home order has been lifted for our type of business. We are working to catch up on work before we get into the busiest time of the year.
We were able to stay without a week of time in our office on error-free registry work.
People who submitted work that contained errors we just did not have the resources to get them called during the stay at home order. We are working to resolve these now since we have more than one person in the office.
Please, if you have the ability to remind breeders to double check their work before submitting it, it would be greatly appreciated. Around 30% of all work received contains errors. Missing tag numbers, birthdates, wrong amount of payment, transfer information missing, are just some examples of what is in error.
I will be working to catch up on emails that have been received that I just did not have the time to answer.
Again, thank you for your patience and understanding during these interesting times we all are facing.
Jeff Ebert
AMBA's Registry
Membership - Breeder
$25.00
Your support will help us fund our mission to preserve and promote the American Mulefoot Hog. Other levels of Membership and Support are available - please see our Membership page! Thank you! ~AMBA
2020 Renewal Drive
$30.00
($4.00 shipping)
Add a hot/cold beverage cup, personalized with AMBA logo, to your 2020 Membership Renewal!!
Please complete and email Membership Application Form - noting 2020 Renewal w Mug!! Make sure to include mailing/shipping address!
Supplies are limited!! $5.00 of Renewal Drive funds go toward AMBA's Special Projects!
From the Director's Desk
Membership Update and Membership Drive
2020 Membership Drive is well underway! Check out the details, including the 2020 Application. We are working on a new document set, but use what is online for now.
In other good news:
Our membership began in 2020 with decent numbers: 24 Breeder Members (current in dues), and are receiving renewals almost every day. Have you submitted yours?
Currently we have 32 Breeder Members.
A lot of people like to analyze data with interesting charts and graphics ... I just would like to say: Well done, but we've only begun!
Thank you to our Breeder Members for supporting this great work on behalf of such a marvelous pig! Thank you to our Supporters and readers of both our Facebook presence and website!
Special thanks to Nathan & Sadie, our Student/Youth members, and Elijah & Jesse, our 4H Registrants! You are the future of the American Mulefoot Hog and AMBA. Contact us for any helps you may need in your show stall presentations!
Breeder Members still have time to submit their dues by renewing today!
Remember, registration and transfer work can only be done for members in good standing (current in their dues). AMBA office will only refer American Mulefoot Hog purchase inquiries to members in good standing, although we do guide folks to the Breeders Directory. Please don't be part of the names culled from the Directory - we are here for you.
**Necessary change to USPS registration mailing: $8.00, effective immediately.
Projects kicking off!
DNA Testing and Diversity within our herds is important.
Once you identify a great line, does it make logistical sense to ship the boar or sow from farm to farm, from one coast to the other? If we were talking about a material thing, sure. Postage or shipping and handling is much cheaper than trucking a two pound package across regional bounds.
Adult American Mulefoot Hogs, whether boars or sows, weigh a little more than that two pound package, and won't fit in the USPS delivery jeep, much less the Priority Mail largest box! Self-trucking costs not only time and money (expenses most smaller farms cannot afford on either end), but puts the animal at stress risk.
Stress affects health in the long-term, including weight pick-up and fertility, as well as that unseen threat of viral or parasite contamination/cross-contamination.