The problem is simply that the price of wool is so low, most farms cannot break even keeping sheep for wool. They are shifting away from wool in general, not just because of pine forestry.

[–] flathead@quex.cc 7 points 1 year ago (10 children)

Sheep farmers burn fleeces as wool prices slump

Tuesday June 27 2023, 12.01am BST, The Times

Sheep farmers are burning fleeces because it is too expensive to bring them to market, it has emerged, with Scottish ministers urged to live up to their green agenda and help reinvent the market.

Wool prices have been low since the 1990s, when the product traded at about £3 per kg, but during the past four years returns have reached crisis point for many producers.

An average price of £0.89 per kg at auction in 2019 fell to a total average return to producers of only £0.33 per kg, a drop exacerbated by the pandemic, which closed UK and international markets.

But campaigners say fleeces are versatile and could be repurposed, for example for house insulation, helping to play a role in Scottish ministers’ net-zero ambitions.

[–] flashmedallion 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Tragic. Why aren't making low-cost wool clothing etc.?

[–] flathead@quex.cc 3 points 1 year ago

The only thing I can think of is that the labor costs must be so much higher for processing and manufacturing woolen products vs synthetic, i.e. wool price must be a relatively factor of the total cost - otherwise there's no explanation, although I don't know the ecological equation between wool and synthetics. You'd think wool would be better for the environment to produce and consume though.

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