Wool Board announces changes to Haulage Charges

15 May '09

2 min read

The British Wool Marketing Board will be introducing changes to its 2009 haulage charges for wool following a decision taken by board members at their last meeting.

In previous years the Board's transport arrangements were based on the principle of re-charging costs on the weight of wool handled which reflected the actual cost of collection.

So a producer who has 2,000 kg or more of his wool collected from the farm would be charged 6.6p /kg.

For the 2009 season the charges will change to a charge per approved container, rather than a pence per kilo charge.

To maximise their returns under the new system producers are urged to pack their clip into fewer containers. This will hopefully bring savings to producers and to the Board.

It will also benefit the haulage of wool from an operational perspective as compacted wool, sent for onward delivery from a BWMB Intermediate Centre to the local grading depot, is easier to transport.

It will mean cost savings on both haulage and storage which will automatically be passed onto the producer.

“Fewer and better-packed containers make the compacting process easier and more efficient,” said Gareth Jones, the BWMB's producer relations manager.

“Producers should also be aware that no charge exists for wool delivered direct to a producer's assigned depot or BWMB Intermediate Centre,” added Mr Jones.

The Board is also working with an engineering company to produce a new on -farm packing machine.

This will be tractor-operated and will pack wool as well as farm waste such as plastic and cardboard. The new packer is currently being developed but more information – as well as demonstrations - will be available over the coming months.

Producers and shearers should be able to purchase the new packer in-time for the start of the 2010 shearing season.

“In line with the changes to the haulage charges this on-farm packer will help producers to maximise their returns and should ultimately pay for itself over a period of time,” said Mr Jones.

The British Wool Marketing Board

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