GREENWICH, N.Y. — The ninth annual Southern Adirondack Fiber Producers Cooperative wool pool will be held June 13, 14, and 15 at the Washington County Fairgrounds on State Rte 29 in Greenwich, New York. The pool hours will be 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day.
This year, producers have the option to have a machine knitted throw made for about $100 each (depending on final number ordered) plus 10 lbs. of grease weight wool. Sample will be available to see and touch at wool pool. We need to have a minimum of 20 blanket orders for the whole coop in order to proceed with the project.
A large national wool buyer is offering sheep farmers from throughout New York and neighboring states current market prices for their fiber. Three classes of wool will be accepted:
1. Clean white wool at least 2-1/2” in length;
2. White offsorts including short and dirty fiber, and head and belly wool;
3. Natural color wool
We don’t have the price set yet but we are confident that we will get the highest possible price for wool this year even though wool prices across the US are still quite low.
Farms with lots of 1,000 lbs or more are encouraged to call ahead; and to deliver their fiber to the Fairgrounds on Thursday. The pool is accepting fiber from 2017, 2018, and 2019 shearing only.
All sellers are asked to contribute time to the pool when they are dropping off their fiber. Help needed includes unloading vehicles, sorting, weighing, taking empty bags and scraps home, and filling the baler. Remember that good management to ensure clean fleece can help bring a better price for your wool. Don’t bed in the barn the night before shearing because bedding will stick to the wool. Shear only dry sheep. Keep the shearing floor clean. Sweep up tags and bellies and bag them separately along with any other off sorts from skirting. The preferred packing is clear plastic bags.
–Southern Adirondack Fiber Producers Cooperative
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