farming

ICSA welcomes investment in Wool study

The €100,000 feasibility study on the wool market will take into account a range of factors that have seen prices for the commodity crash in recent years.

farming

Published: Wed 14 Oct 2020, 5:40 PM

Last updated: Wed 14 Oct 2020, 5:42 PM

ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara has welcomed the Government commitment to undertake a feasibility study on wool.

Announced by Minister Pippa Hackett as part of Budget 2021, the €100,000 feasibility study on the wool market will take into account a range of factors that have seen prices for the commodity crash in recent years.

“ICSA has been at the centre of a push to reverse the decline in the value of wool,” said Mr McNamara. “We believe this €100,000 feasibility study on the wool market must focus on the potential for wool to contribute significantly to our green economy, and on delivering a return to sheep farmers for the supply of that wool,” he said.

“Work undertaken so far by ICSA has revealed there is massive scope to revitalise the entire wool industry here. There are a wealth of uses for wool which span across a whole range of sectors, and the priority now must be capturing that potential. It is time for wool to take its place as a valued and valuable natural resource.”

Mr McNamara also welcomed the clarity around the continuation of the Sheep Welfare Scheme but said the lack of an increase in the rate of payment was disappointing. “ICSA believes the scheme does need considerable new investment will continue to lobby for a €30/head sheep payment in the next round of CAP.”