NSA responds to British Wool’s statement

6th May 2020

As the shearing season is about to get into full swing the National Sheep Association (NSA) is pleased to get clarity from British Wool that wool collections and deliveries into depots will continue as usual. 

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “With so much uncertainty generally, we welcome that we are in a situation where shearing gangs can operate and wool can be moved. However, the news of the carryover of 10 million kgs, nearly a third of British Wools annual clip, is less welcome, although the UK is not alone in this.”

“Fortunately, most British sheep farmers are used to wool covering shearing and handling costs and often not a lot more, with few farmers relying on wool values for a living. We do have a small number of sheep farmers who continue to do well out of wool, and who have managed to climb out of relying on what is essentially a global commodity market. In my opinion, this is the only way to remove ourselves from global economic impacts and achieving this on a national scale is a big challenge.”

NSA will continue to correspond with British Wool and keep members abreast of any information it can.