OCR Text |
Show BY POOLING WOOL CLIP OF COMMUNITY SHEEP RAISERS CAN OBTAIN FULL VALUE i -- -?w Alum -Kiwi Buyers Purchasing Wool at Auction Sale. (Prepared by the United States Department Depart-ment of Agriculture.) Tlie wool grower who markets his wool as an individual is handicapped, for his clip Ih likely to be too small to induce the buyers to make any alterations al-terations In their accustomed methods of estimating wool values. By combining com-bining or pooling his wool with other growers and selling it co-operatively, it should be possible to prepare the entire en-tire clip of any section so that the reputation of Its wool w-ould be enhanced en-hanced and the growers obtain the full market value for their product, say specialists of the United States department de-partment of agriculture. In its simplest form, the co-operative selling of wool may operate merely in the collection and disposal of the clip. The wool may be collected at some central point and sold privately, or by auction sale, or by sealed bids. In some cases it may be advisable to have a local representative handle wool for the growers, or the wool may be consigned con-signed to a merchant In some central market. The latter method requires less actual time, experience, expense and labor. How to Organize Selling Clubs. When farmers of a community decide de-cide to consign their wool, some one grower should be designated to act as Informal manager. He should make arrangements ar-rangements with all the growers to deliver de-liver their wool at a certain shipping point on a specified day. He should be on hand when the wool is graded, if that has been provided for at the loading station, and to see the wool loaded and shipped. This plan provides a nucleus for a permanent organization, and is the first step in a more efficient system for marketing wool. The experience gained by one year's operation under this plan is often sufficient to warrant the establishment of a permanent co-operative marketing association. When planning such an association, the growers should meet and discuss the proposed plan thoroughly, appoint a committee to investigate the possibilities, possibili-ties, the financing, suitable warehouse accommodations, shipping facilities, and any other local conditions which demand attention. Much misunderstanding misunder-standing may be avoided by having the plan reduced to writing, no matter mat-ter how simple the co-operative idea may seem. The success or failure of a co-operative organization for the marketing of wool depends upon the necessity for organization, locnl conditions, organization organ-ization efficiency, and the loyalty of those participating. The most important im-portant factor in an organization formed for the co-operative marketing market-ing of wool is the selection of a snies manager having experience in wool and with sufficient business capabilities capabili-ties to command the confidence of the growers. Provision for Expense Funds. If the members of the co-operative marketing association desire a loan on their wool, arrangements should be made with a local banker to advance to the association a sufficient amount to cover such loans. Each member should be assessed a certain amount, for each pound of wool to cover the expense of loading and shipping, this amount to be deducted at the time of final settlement. Funds thus provided may be used for such expenses as labor for handling the wool, fire insurance, rental for warehouse, etc. In fixing a date for delivery of the wool, it should be understood that in case of rain the collecting will he postponed until the first clear day. The price paid for wool Is determined deter-mined by the grade of the clip and when selling under the co-operative plan It Is frequently possible to have the wool graded at the time 1t is loaded. Thus each grower will know before his wool reaches the market whether it has been graded choice, average av-erage or poor. When a sufficient quantity quan-tity of wool Is pooled, some buyers will send a wool classer or grader to grade each grower's wool separately. If this Is done, an accurate record of. each farmer's clip should be kept by the manager and a statement sent to the different growers showing the number of fleeces and net weight of each grade. If possible, each grower should be present when the wool is graded, for a few actual demonstrations demonstra-tions of this kind Impress the grower and will create an Incentive to produce pro-duce wool of a higher grade. If possible, arrangements to sell the wool should be made while the grader Is present, so that he may represent the growers and explain In an intelligent intelli-gent way to the buyers the merits of the different grades. As a rule, wool growers have little definite knowledge concerning grading, shrinkage, spinning spin-ning properties or value of their wool, while the buyers at least most of them are familiar not only with these points but have accurate information infor-mation concerning market conditions and the attitude of the manufacturers towards the purchase of wool, and particularly par-ticularly the demand for certain grades. |