The current assessment of $ .50 per head on the sale of sheep/lambs became effective July 1, 2014. The Commission may not increase the assessment by more than 10 cents in any one year, with the maximum rate capped at $1.00 per head. See ORS 576.325 (3) (f).
The assessment is collected on any sheep that has been fed or grazed in Oregon for at least 30 consecutive days during the preceding 12 months prior to the date of sale.
The $ .50 per head assessment is paid by the producer and forwarded to the Commission by the first purchaser (handler). A handler may be a processor, distributor, auction market or any other person engaged in marketing sheep as owner, agent, or broker who buys sheep/lambs from one or more producers in Oregon.
If the purchaser is located out-of-Oregon, the individual producer may request the Oregon assessment of $ .50 per head be deducted from the proceeds of the sale and remitted by the purchasing entity to the Oregon Sheep Commission.
However, if the purchaser refuses to remit the assessment to the Commission, it becomes the responsibility of the individual producer making the sale to submit his/her assessment by the end of each quarter.
An individual sheep producer who processes or markets sheep direct to consumers (locker lamb) is also required to remit the assessment for each live sheep sold or sent to slaughter/custom processing.
Assessment are remitted to OSC on a quarterly basis, although they may be submitted monthly or following a sale.
Forms are available for individual producers to remit on the sale of his/her sheep or for handlers purchasing sheep/lambs from multiple producers.
Reports and assessments must be submitted by the 10th of the month following the end of each quarter.
The names and addresses of the producers selling sheep and the number of head sold must be included on the reports.
Individual reports are considered confidential; however, compiled information, such as total assessments collected, is treated as public information.