Merchants who buy wool from farmers at flat-rate prices have started to make quotes and collect wool for the 2018 clip.

In general, prices are similar to last year with crossbred wool typically making 50p/kg to 55p/kg. Some merchants have said that higher prices can be negotiated for finer wools, such as wool from Mule and Cheviot sheep, but most merchants are yet to quote for Blackface wool as only small numbers of mountain sheep are clipped so far. Initial indications are that prices will also be similar to last year at 25p/kg to 30p/kg.

Meanwhile, the British Wool auction in Bradford last week saw the price index rise by 2.6%, with the average selling price finishing at 107p/kg. The final sale of the 2017/18 season had 1.16m kg of wool on offer and a 99% clearance rate. It follows a 3% price index rise at the previous sale in May, with finer wools continuing to sell particularly well.

Other news from Northern Ireland

Movement on APHIS phone service

The telephone system available for registering the births and deaths of cattle is being extended to animal movements, DAERA has confirmed.

The development will allow cattle purchased at a livestock market to be confirmed into the buyer’s herd by telephone and is expected to be available later this year.

DAERA is also urging more farmers to register births through the telephone service, rather than using paper forms.

The service is available on 0300 200 7855 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Honours for McCollum and McCrum

Among those recognised in the 2018 Queen’s birthday honours list are two local figures in the agri-food industry. The former chief executive of Moy Park, Janet McCollum, has received a CBE for services to economic development in NI. Also on the honours list is the manager of Rathfriland co-op, Jim McCrum, who has received a MBE for services to the farming community in south Down.