Wool sales kick-off with strong prices

THE new season for wool has kicked off with the first of the season's auction sales at Bradford and the good news for sheep producers is that prices have been strong.

Gareth Jones of the British Wool Marketing Board said there was every indication that the higher prices would be maintained as the sales moved into the main auction season for British wool.

He added that the BWMB's introduction of a new system of wool collection, through the setting-up of intermediate depots across the UK had been well supported by sheep producers as the season's clip started to move off farms.

"All the grading depots - including the intermediate depots - have been busy receiving wool since mid-May in a year that has seen producers receive significantly higher prices for their wool.

"And the BWMB is anticipating that the improved demand for wool will help sustain higher prices into next year."

The intermediate depot at Almondbank, Perth, has been well supported by Scottish producers who have been delivering wool to the depot and thus avoiding the haulage charge for their clip.