MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay expects smallest wool clip in over a hundred years: 32 million kilos

Minister Tabare Aguerre announced a plan to support the sheep industry

Uruguay is facing its smallest clip in over a hundred years and the 2011/2012 season’s wool production is estimated to be limited to 32 million kilos according to Joaquin Martinicorena, president of the Uruguay’s Wool Secretariat, SUL.

The disclosure was done during the official opening of the Uruguay 2011/12 shearing season and the launching of the second chapter of the livestock development program which has a fund of 20 million dollars.

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Tabare Aguerre was present at the ceremony and made important announcements for the sheep farming industry.

“The plan is a re-edition of last year’s but this time will be implemented by SUL with specific productive projects which target the association of farmers, sharing of technical and financial expertise and the possibility of group sales. It’s a formula to stimulate administration, technical and services management among other issues”, said Minister Aguerre.

Martinicorena said that the clip this year will include the shearing of 7.5 million sheep and close to 2 million lambs, totalling an estimated 32 million kilos of wool. A couple of decades ago Uruguay’s flock was more than 25 million.

However the 2011/12 season will be “the inflection point for Uruguay’s falling sheep stock because of the excellent prices for wool and lamb”, added SUL president.

Minister Aguerre said he was optimistic about the future of the sheep industry, emphasizing that sheep play an important role in rural development and social inclusion, and the purpose of the National Strategic Plan for the sector is basically to expand the production of lambs.