Jane Underhill is weaving a new future for homegrown wool скачать в хорошем качестве

Jane Underhill is weaving a new future for homegrown wool

Wool, more often than not, is seen as a byproduct of Canadian lamb production. While many sheep producers appreciate that wool is a remarkable renewable fibre, shearing sheep and handling wool is a flat cost, done for the health of the sheep, with little chance of return on the wool itself. But Jane Underhill, founder and president of the J. Underhill Canadian Wool Agency (JU Wool), is working to flip that narrative by creating market pathways for homegrown fibre. “We have partners across the value chain,” says Underhill. “Yes, we have producers coming to us. Yes, we have innovators coming to us. Yes, we have retailers, hotels, and government procurement agencies that are looking to tell a different story in the products that they’re making,” she says. JU Wool’s services range from white-label manufacturing of items such as blankets, upholstery, and carpets, to research and development for government and industry. The company also recently launched a wholesale knitting yarn segment designed for artisans and small retailers, consolidating their orders to meet commercial manufacturing minimums. A fourth pillar of the business focuses on marketing and improving the value of wool at the farm gate. Underhill says small but intentional changes at the farm level can pay dividends. “When you’re shearing, let’s try and avoid second cuts… and learning a bit of skirting, doing a more aggressive skirting, knowing what pieces to take off” makes the fibre more valuable while saving on downstream sorting costs, she says. Switching from traditional “sausage” wool bags to square totes also improves shipping efficiency when shipping, keeping costs down. Much of the current demand for wool is driven by home interiors, from carpets to bedding, where Canadian wool’s durability and micron range are well-suited. “I like home interiors for a couple of reasons. One is, we use up a lot of wool… and it is what gives us the margin so that everybody in the value chain makes a bit of money,” she says. By targeting commercial applications and educating producers on handling practices, Underhill hopes to move wool from an overlooked byproduct to a profitable, sustainable resource for Canadian farms. Website: https://www.realagriculture.com/ #wool #sheep #fibre Find us on our other social media platforms: X/Twitter:   / realagriculture   Instagram:   / realagriculture   Facebook:   / realagmedia