Wool

 

 

Arizona Resources

Colorado Resources

New Mexico Resources

Utah Resources

Regional Resources

Organizations Involved in Wool Marketing

Direct Marketing Wool

Alpaca and Llama Wool Marketing

Sheep Wool Marketing

Organic Wool

Small Scale Wool Processing

Funding Resources

 

*Each resource within the Four Corners region will be marked with an asterisk

 

See also:

 

 

Arizona Resources

 

*Arizona Department of Agriculture: Animal Services Department

This is the directory of programs and offices in the Arizona Department of Agriculture that relate to animal services. Programs and office links on this page include; the state veterinarian, meat and poultry inspection, livestock hauling permits, brand records, and cruelty to animal statutes.

http://www.azda.gov/ASD/asd.htm

 

*Dine' be' Iiná, Inc. (The Navajo Lifeway)

DBI is dedicated to conserving the traditional Navajo Churro Sheep breed as well as to educate the community and the public about the importance of Navajo Sheep Culture and spirituality.

http://www.navajolifeway.org/

 

Colorado Resources

 

*Colorado Alternative Livestock Industry Contacts

This contact list has been prepared by the CO Department of Agriculture, Division of Markets. The livestock contact list includes information for alternative livestock producers, beef and dairy cattle, horse, sheep, and swine producers.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout&cid=1167928163382&p=1167928163382&pagename=CDAGWrapper#Industry%20Contacts

 

*Colorado State University Extension: Livestock Fact Sheets

The numerous fact sheets on the CSU extension site fall under the three topics of livestock management, health and judging.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/livestk/publive.html

 

*Del Cerro Fine Textile Art for Interiors, Cimaron, CO

Del Cerro is a holistic managed ranch with a variety of fiber animals, and hand-woven textile art.

(Jim & Daniela Howell: 2005 SWMN Conference presenters) 

www.delcerrotextiles.com

 

New Mexico Resources

 

*Dine Woven

Roy Kady is a Navajo master weaver, teacher, and wool expert from the Teec Nos Pos area. (2004 SWMN Conference presenter)  

http://dinewoven.com

 

Las Aranas Spinners and Weavers Guild, Albuquerque, NM

Las Aranas Spinners and Weavers Guild was formed in 1971 by a group of spinners and weavers in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area to provide education and learning experiences for its members and increase the awareness of and appreciation for fiber arts. They offer workshops on dyeing wool with plants native to the Southwest.

http://www.lasaranas.org/

 

 *The Navajo-Churro Sheep Association, Ojo Caliente, NM

This is the nationwide association for the Navajo Churro sheep breed. The N-CSA currently has 160 members and over 4,090 registered animals.

www.navajo-churrosheep.com

 

*New Mexico State University Extension: Livestock Publications

This is a rather extensive list of technical publications that have to do with livestock management.

http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/

 

*Sheep Production and Management

This is an article published by the New Mexico State University. It is an extensive manual about sheep production that covers selection and breeding, nutrition, health, space requirements, lambing, and more.

http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/100B15.html

 

*Slow Food: Ark of Taste: Navajo-Churro Sheep of NM

The Ark of Taste aims to rediscover, catalog, describe and publicize forgotten flavors.

The Navajo-Churro is considered endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Only 2000 sheep are now registered with the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association. The Navajo-Churro sheep is a part of the Slow Food’s “Ark of Taste” project.

http://www.slowfoodfoundation.org/eng/arca/dettaglio.lasso?cod=516&prs=0

 

* Tierra Wools, Los Ojos, NM

Tierra Wools is a spinning, hand dyeing, and hand weaving workshop and a retail store. They buy local wool, wash it, spin it, and weave the yarn into beautiful weavings.

www.handweavers.com/

 

*Wool Traditions, Taos, NM

Wool Traditions is a non-Profit Educational Center for Sustainable Agriculture specializing in organic wool and natural dyes.

(Robin Collier: 2004 SWMN Conference presenter)

http://wooltraditions.org/

 

Utah Resources

 

*State of Utah Department of Agriculture and Food: Livestock Services

This is a comprehensive list of livestock services provided by the UDAF.

http://ag.utah.gov/services.html#livestock

 

*Utah State University Extension: Livestock Concerns

This webpage has information about small acreage animal production in Utah. Topics include information about pasture management and parasite control.

http://extension.usu.edu/smac/htm/animals

 

Regional Resources

 

Fresh, Organic and Native Foods of the Four Corners: A Directory of Eco-Regional Food Sustainability

Over 150 local food growers, ranchers, and organizations from the Four Corners region are listed in Fresh, Organic and Native Foods of the Four Corners: A Directory of Eco-Regional Food Sustainability. This guide highlights meat producers in the four corners.

http://www.environment.nau.edu/food/FoodDirectory/Select.asp

 

Organizations Involved in Wool Marketing

 

Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA: Livestock Marketing

This website has information about the programs and publications related to livestock marketing of the AMS.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/

 

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect over 150 breeds of livestock and poultry from extinction. Included are asses, cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. Founded in 1977, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is the pioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve historic breeds and genetic diversity in livestock.

http://www.albc-usa.org/

 

*Dine' be' iiná, Inc. (The Navajo Lifeway)

DBI is dedicated to conserving the traditional Navajo Churro Sheep breed as well as to educate the community and the public about the importance of Navajo Sheep Culture and spirituality.

http://www.navajolifeway.org/

 

Direct Marketing Wool

 

ATTRA Livestock Publications

The resources offered here deal with sustainable livestock production literally from the ground up. Pasture management, feeds and forages are covered by several publications, while others address care and management for specific animals and marketing of the products derived from them.

http://attra.ncat.org/livestock.html

 

Cotton and Wool Outlook

This is a newsletter published by the Economic Research Service of the USDA which is published 10 times per year. The publication examines supply, use, prices, and trade for cotton and wool, including supply and demand prospects in major importing and exporting countries. Data is included on raw fibers and textiles.

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1281

 

*Glossary of Wool Terms

This glossary has been put together by the Colorado State University Extension. This is a useful glossary to learn the technical terms used in the wool industry.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/livestk/01400.html

 

Handling and Marketing Wool

This is a resource website from the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension. The site describes grading and classifying wool, handling wool and improving the quality and value of your wool crop. Also includes links to wool resources in Maine and a list of wool terms.

http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2070.htm

 

Marketing Livestock Products

This is a fact sheet that outlines opportunities and approaches for marketing locally-produced livestock products.

http://www.king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/documents/MrktgLvstkProds.pdf

 

National Agricultural Library: Sheep and Goats

This list compiled by the National Agricultural Library has articles and links to various organizations that specialize in sheep production.

http://riley.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=8&tax_level=2&tax_subject=10&level3_id=0&level4_id=0&level5_id=0&topic_id=1735&&placement_default=0

 

Alpaca and Llama Wool Marketing

 

Alpaca Lies? Do Alpacas Represent the Latest Speculative Bubble in Agriculture?

This is a report from the Agricultural Marketing Center. The report looks at the evolution of the U.S. alpaca industry and asks whether today’s current prices for alpaca stock can be justified by fundamental economic conditions governing the industry, or whether alpacas represent the latest speculative bubble in American agriculture.

http://www.agmrc.org/NR/rdonlyres/9C7E0AD5-ED7A-40D9-B177-6681A721F449/0/alpaca_RAE.pdf

 

Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association

The mission of AOBA is to facilitate the expansion of a strong and sustainable alpaca industry through the growth and development of the national herd and its products. Information about how to subscribe to Alpacas Magazine is available on the website.

http://www.alpacaowners.com/login.asp?accessdenied=%2FIndex%2Easp

 

Llama and Alpaca Farming

This paper discusses considerations for raising llamas and alpacas, including regulations, marketing, nutrition, reproduction, handling, and shelter and health concerns.

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/llamaalpaca.html

 

Sheep Wool Marketing

 

American Sheep Industry Association

ASI is the national organization representing the interests of more than 69,000 sheep producers located throughout the United States. From East to West, farm flocks to range operations, ASI works to represent the interests of all producers.

http://www.sheepusa.org/

 

Breeds of Livestock: Sheep

This is a service of the Oklahoma State University to help research the various breeds of sheep.

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/

 

Organic Wool

 

Organic Trade Association: Organic Fiber Standards

Since the USDA standards do not cover organic processing of wool, the Organic Trade Association has developed organic fiber standards.

http://www.ota.com/AmericanOrganicStandardsforFiber.html

 

Organic Wool Fact Sheet

In order for wool to be certified as "organic," it must be produced in accordance with federal standards for organic livestock production. This document from the Organic Trade Association covers the standards necessary for certified organic wool.

http://www.ota.com/organic/woolfactsheet.html

 

USDA Organic Standards for Wool Production

This is the website for the National Organic Program, which regulates the organic standards for the USDA. This site has the detailed information about the standards.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm

 

Small Scale Wool Processing

 

*Glossary of Wool Terms

This glossary has been put together by the Colorado State University Extension. This is a useful glossary to learn the technical terms used in the wool industry.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/livestk/01400.html

 

Mountain High Fiber Ladies

Pagosa Springs, CO

e-mail: jemckain@centurytel.net

 

Funding Resources

 

Wool and Mohair Marketing Assistance Loan: Farm Service Agency of the USDA

Wool and mohair nonrecourse marketing assistance loans are nine-month loans that provide eligible producers with interim financing on their production. The loans facilitate the orderly distribution of loan-eligible crop throughout the year.

http://content.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/psd/mohair.htm

 

Please see:

  • Financing for general resources to help fund agricultural marketing ventures.