Letter: Our sheep farmers should be paid a fair price for their efforts
After reading the article 'Dip in wool price for sheep farmers is a disgrace' I feel, as a farmer's daughter, this news is outrageous and need to give my views on how important sheep wool is.
Back in the 1950s and the 1960s I loved the annual shearing day at our farm, when I would be given an afternoon off from school to enjoy watching the party of 12 men shearing. My job would be putting the pitched initial name letter after they had been sheared, then it would be wrapping up the wool ready for packing into the trailer.
The British Wool Marketing Board needs to consider the hard work involved before the wool hits the shops. First the sheep feed is to be considered for costs, then the caring and looking after the sheep all year.
Sheep wool is essential, as it contains lanolin, which is remarkably close to our own natural skin oils. It provides great moisturising and protection, and is perfect for use on severe, dry-skin conditions and for rough or chapped skin.
Lanolin and its many derivatives are used extensively in products designed for the protection, treatment and beautification of human skin.
Sheep wool is also good insulation, providing a high-performance and a low-impact solution to both consumption of energy and the effects of climate change.
Then there is knitting wool which is very expensive to buy in the shops, such as cashmere and mohair – which is an exquisite, soft yarn, perfect for knitting luxurious garments and beautiful baby knits.
Tell me how on earth BWMB can warn the farmers that the average producer payments for the coming season will be down for the sheep farmers. This is so unfair to the hardworking farmer.
Eirianwen Jones
Llanfair
