Wool producers can learn about BWMB at the Kent County show

Stephen Spencer and Trevor Richards with producer

Sheep farmers wanting to learn more about the wool process from farm to product can meet British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) Board Members and staff at the Kent County show from Friday 10 – Sunday 12 July.

A strong sales season in 2014 and continuing demand from across the globe bodes well for this year’s wool clip and BWMB’s presence at the show will provide wool producers with the opportunity to understand more about both the wool process and BWMB’s role within it.

The 2014 selling season saw a good performance in a difficult global market which puts the BWMB in a strong position heading into the new season explains BWMB Vice Chairman and English Southern Board member Trevor Richards.

Demand for British wool, which is recognised the world over as a high quality product, has seen a significant resurgence over the last few years with buyers from around the world.

"All our major trading partners are experiencing high demand for wool products in both the fashion sector and also the furnishings and interior design industry.

“This is welcomed and while we’d all love to see prices rise further it is more important to be able to deliver stable prices to producers’ year in, year out, something BWMB is achieving thanks to its competitive auction system,” he explains.

“Producers are familiar with buying and selling at auction and this method also continues to deliver the best possible returns for wool producers. With the number of producers supporting the Board increasing and more consumers turning to wool the future is certainly looking good which is encouraging.

“I urge all sheep farmers to continue to support the Board and hopefully use this show as an opportunity to visit the stand and find out more about Your Wool Board Working for You.

Both Board Members and BWMB staff are keen to meet wool producers on the BWMB stand in the Wool Tent, as part of the show’s new Sheep Village. BWMB will be joined by Kent Wool Growers Ltd and other exhibitors focusing on ‘the story of wool’. Many producers are largely unaware of what happens to their wool once it leaves the farm, but having a better understanding of what happens is important for all producers.

“The BWMB is unique in being at the heart of the wool supply chain, active at every level of the industry from shearer training through to its involvement as a founder member of the global ‘Campaign for Wool’ – raising the profile on the benefits of wool as a quality fibre” adds Mr Richards.

In addition to learning more about the Board’s work visitors to the stand will be able to try their hand at our ‘Identify the Breed’ competition, with entrants having to identify wool from six different regional breeds of sheep. This is a light hearted competition, but is still highly educational and provides visitors with the chance to handle different types of wool and to better understand why some have a higher value than others.

Also present at the show and welcoming the opportunity to engage with producers will be BWMB Wool Marketing Manager Stephen Spencer, who will be judging the show’s fleece and wool on the hoof competitions.

“I'm looking forward to meeting both producers and competitors and hope to see the usual high standards of entries.

“Competitors entering the either competition should look for a high quality, uniform fleece which should be clean and free from contamination. As a judge, I’d expect marking of fleeces to be kept to a minimum. Also any artificially dip tinted fleeces will be significantly penalised” added Mr Spencer.

Local Board member Trevor Richards added wool producers can make more of their wool clip by taking a few simple steps to ensure it is delivered to the local depot in the best possible condition.

“Taking care to ensure sheep are shorn as cleanly as possible is the first step in the process - fleeces should then be packed in approved wool containers and kept free from contamination of any type, such as straw, string or vegetation.

“These simple steps will mean fleeces are delivered in a good condition and should ensure producers can maximise the value of their wool.” Information on clip presentation will be available on the BWMB stand.