• By April W Bowman
• Posted Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Successful Piedmont Wool Pool

The inaugural Piedmont Wool Pool was held in King at the American Legion Post 290 Fairgrounds on August 14, 2023. Because of wool prices and marketing, it is sometimes difficult for sheep producers to market their wool individually. Most sheep are sheared annually, which can lead to wool piling up quickly if it is not marketed or discarded. Nearly 1,000 pounds of wool was collected from four counties in North Carolina!

Collected wool was taken to Elk Creek, Virginia to join the larger pool there. It is anticipated that 50,000 pounds of wool from across North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia will be collected and baled to be sold. This year, wool is being sold to a mill in South Carolina and producers can expect a price of around 30 cents/pound. The annual wool pool in Elk Creek, VA is organized by Extension Agents in North Carolina and Virginia, and the New River Valley Sheep and Goat Club. If you are interested in participating next year, please contact April Bowman, Extension Agent, Livestock, Forages, and 4-H Youth Development at awbowman@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2855.

Learn other facts about shearing and wool at https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/asked-dont-sheep-shrink-rain/.