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The infrastructure of the British Wool Marketing Board is directly related to the number of sheep in the UK and the fleeces they produce. If the national flock falls much further and, therefore, the amount of wool handled by the board continues to decrease, it will become more difficult to maintain the level of service to producers at the same p/kg cost.

That’s the stark message from Sussex farmer and wool board chairman Frank Langrish who will chair a discussion on the future strategy of the organisation at its forthcoming annual conference in Bradford in November.

"The economic crisis is hitting the world wool market and things are becoming more difficult. Many European carpet manufacturers have put staff on short-time and China is buying less wool. But on the positive side the board’s wool auctions at Bradford have continued to sell reasonable quantities since the season began in August," says Mr Langrish.

Wool prices have fallen slightly over recent weeks although producers have received a price for their wool more or less in line with the returns forecast by the board in spring. By early October the board had sold 9,563,905kg of wool at an average price of 75.54p per kilo.

"We’ve got to be very careful about how we manage our resources in this economic situation and the current marketplace. We have no intention of marketing British wool at giveaway prices but we do have to sell it and producers must be aware that the retail sector is facing a very difficult situation."

Mr Langrish added that the board had taken stringent measures to contain its costs with the primary aim of providing wool producers with the highest possible return coupled with a good service.

"It’s a constant challenge. The board can continue to provide the most effective method of wool marketing - although we are relying on producers’ ongoing support by sending their wool to the board."

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