[at-l] Sheep and Wool

[hiker_00@hotmail.com (T. Woodworth)]

I think it is a strange combination of events to have this topic come up in 
the List and maybe I have something to offer. For you see, not only am I an 
AT hiker but also a shepherd.

American wool producers are in a terrible slump.  Untold tons of wool is 
either dumped or burnt each year.  Mills that previously purchased fleeces 
for pennies a pound are closed.  Warehouses are packed with both white and 
colored fleeces with no buyers and the Government is subsidizing shepherds 
(pennies!).

Wool is sold by grade and fineness measured in microns.  It is a credit to 
the Merino producers that their product is recognized by the general public. 
  I wonder how many people can even name another breed of sheep, let alone 
know what its wool is used for.   Fine wool breeders (merino  20-22 micron) 
are one of few with a good market for their wool.

A large number of small shepherds are like me.  They have a small flock 
supplying meat and wool to individuals who want to know where their meat 
comes from or are after specific wool.  We raise Border Leicester (30 
micron) and Romney (35 micron) sheep.  They are both long wool breeds with 
colored and white fleeces.  Generally we sell everything we have and don't 
have to enter the wool pool.  Wool pool folks generally get pennies per 
pound if anything for their wool.  Maybe one day I'll earn enough to call 
this profitable.

So wouldn't all of us rather support US wool producers or off-shore oil 
interests.  I never looked at my synthetic fleece items but there's little 
chance they were made here or with US oil.  But then again, New Zealand and 
Australia are the biggest Merino producers in the world.

So, please order lamb in restaurants and wool is certainly a wonderful 
product.  There are lots of people keeping an ancient tradition alive and we 
need all the support possible.

Cheers

Tim


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