I trust everyone is doing well and that all of your family has survived this pandemic, and that you’re eager to make 2021 a much better year.

I started last spring’s newsletter with the title “With Change Comes Opportunity” and I so much believe that this is true and that we must be ready to take advantage of any opportunities that arise because of the recent times that we have lived through.

I can say that the wool market has begun to improve and that sales are now beginning to take place, but the prices offered are still at rather low levels compared to what we have seen in the past two to three years.

I encourage everyone to do their utmost to make sure the wool is packaged and prepared in as good a way as you possibly can make it. Please try to class your wool if at all possible, and make sure every fleece that is within the bale is at least 3 inches plus long, and do your best to remove all fleeces that have broken fibers or are very tender. The market for wool that contains, or has several issues with in it - meaning vegetable matter, staple length and strength, and color issues - will be heavily discounted. Current wool sales in the 21 to 23 Micron range are coming in from about $3.40 to $4.10 clean, less marketing expenses.

At this time I have not decided exactly when we are going to have our sale dates this spring as I would like to see more interest from all of our wool buyers. The last two sales that we have had, the buyers came, looked at the wool, and left without making any offers. After those dates I was able to sell the wool private treaty at very competitive prices. So, at this time I plan on offering your wool as we receive your test data on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I would rather give you an additional option rather than forcing all of our wool, or large amounts, on certain dates a month later.

Our wool test lab situation has not changed from this time last year as we are still in the process of sending all of our wool samples to New Zealand to get results. The new lab in San Angelo is in the process of being set up and is promised to be ready for the spring of 2022. We have been very pleased with the results that we have been receiving from New Zealand and look forward to the Texas lab being set up and providing tests that are equal to the quality we receive from the New Zealand lab.

"Stay patient as the sheep industry's best days are just ahead."

In closing, I want to encourage you to be patient,  and allow this pandemic that is affecting the entire global economy to ease and allow the textile industry to again get back up to full speed. Demand for wool is growing around the world, and the supply continues to get tighter. Those of you that have feeder lambs for sale right now are seeing much higher prices than we expected as little as six months ago!