Wool is an international product with prices and quality standards set by world markets, which clearly influence the price U.S. producers receive for their wool. U.S. mills use nearly four times as much imported wool as they do domestic wool, due in part to the fact that the U.S. industry does not produce enough to satisfy local requirements.
Another factor impacting the U.S. wool price is the fact that other countries have instituted stiff measures to improve the quality of their wool and the U.S. lags behind in this area.
In an effort to bolster the quality of the U.S. wool clip, representatives from every segment of the wool industry met to plot a strategy for quality improvement initiatives. These frank and honest discussions resulted in changes in marketing standards and genetic improvement to further the wool quality improvement effort.