Wool farmers to recieve better returns this year

16 May '08

3 min read

A big increase in the price that sheep farmers are paid for their wool this year will see the value of the 2008 clip rise by up to four times its 2007 level, the British Wool Marketing Board announced this week, and to ensure sheep farmers are fully aware of the value of their Wool Cheque this year the British Wool Marketing Board has issued every producer with an individual statement which shows the estimated payment.

The statements were issued to all UK sheep producers this week along with the BWMB's annual Price Schedule which provides a full breakdown of the prices to be paid for all wools.

Last season the BWMB made changes to its payment pattern which meant a reduced Advance Payment was made to producers resulting in a low Wool Cheque, but those changes have enabled the amount of the current and future Wool Cheques paid to producers to be more consistent, and to more fairly reflect the value of the wool delivered.

Sussex farmer Frank Langrish, Chairman of the BWMB, recognised that changing the payment pattern had created a difficult situation for producers.

However, he stated that: “From this year, and in the future, we believe Wool Cheques will be at a higher and more consistent level and should avoid the wide variances in prices paid to producers over the last two years”.

The BWMB says it has had to cope with increased handling costs since 2001. Sheep numbers and the weight of wool have declined every year since then, but depot closures and staff redundancies have been made to try and control escalating costs.

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