NEW CASTLE, Pa. — In an effort to make the two northwest Pennsylvania Wool Pools more efficient in labor management, equipment, and better on their wool poolers, the Mercer County and Lawrence County Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Growers Directors have voted to combine their wool pools starting in 2014.
The dates set for the general population are June 2 and June 3. Sheep producers can get in line from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. An invitation day for some of the larger loads is scheduled for May 31. Individuals with larger loads will be contacted and scheduled in effort to make the unloading and grading process more efficient for all.
Location
The location for combined wool pools is set for Lawrence County Fairgrounds on Route 108 in New Castle. This larger facility will make it easier to continually unload and grade two trucks at a time.
Plans and location of the 2015 combined wool pools as plans are being discussed already to enhance the 2015 wool pools even further.
The Mercer and Lawrence County Sheep and Wool Growers Association are organizations made up of only sheep and wool producers. At the beginning of May the association opened the floor to outside wool companies to purchase all wool collected from the wool pool based on 10 different grades of wool.
When area sheep producers bring their wool to our wool pool in June, the wool will be graded, weighed and paid for at that time by our association based on the price per pound accepted at bid.
Small fee
For 2014, the association will only deduct a small fee just to cover handling and expenses such as building rent, electric, wool bags and workers. This will be somewhere between .13 to .15 cents per pound.
The Mercer County Sheep and Wool Growers Association will have many sheep supplies for sale during the wool pool, such as dewormers, halters, shearing supplies, ram harnesses, foot care, fly control, etc stop by the fairgrounds.
To schedule selling wool at the wool pool, or for grades of wool pricing contact Bob Calvert at 724-475-6299, Chuck Orr at 814-786-7018 or Ken Scott at 724-528-3553.
