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Republic of Ireland-based merchants that buy wool directly off NI sheep farmers at flat-rate prices have not started making official quotes for the 2019 clip.
Wool buyers state that quotes for this season’s wool will not be available until next week at the earliest. However, the indications are that prices will be largely in line with last year.
Reports suggest that early quotes of 50p/kg to 55p/kg have been given to some farmers for cross-bred wool, which is on par with prices that were paid for the 2018 clip.
However, sheep farmers with finer wools from the likes of Mule and Cheviot sheep should be in a position to negotiate slightly better prices for the higher-demand product.
Merchants are talking down prices for Blackface wool and indicate that prices could be back slightly on the 25p/kg to 30p/kg that was generally paid last year. With shearing contractors typically charging £1.40 to £1.50/ewe, farmers who hire in contractors are facing another year of zero or negative returns for their wool.
SHARING OPTIONS: