'Made to last': More than 100 years old, Canadian wool company thrives in changing knitting market

Written by Heather Barrett - CBC Tuesday, February 18, 2020

'Made to last': More than 100 years old, Canadian wool company thrives in changing knitting market

Briggs & Little survives by keeping its yarn and its business old school, natural and on a small scale

Heather Barrett · Posted: Feb 14, 2020 4:14 PM ET | Last Updated: February 14 
 
Mike Little, the fourth-generation owner-operator of Briggs & Little, with his sons John and C.J., who work on the factory floor.
From left to right: Mike Little, the fourth-generation owner-operator of Briggs & Little, with his sons John and C.J., who work on the factory floor. (Heather Barrett/CBC)
 
Briggs & Little's knitting yarn is a bit scratchy and has a faint whiff of its barnyard origins. 
 
But in today's...
Posted in Wool News

Canadian Sheep Identification Program Fees Increasing Today

Written by CSF Monday, February 3, 2020

Canadian Sheep Identification Program Fees Increasing Today 

 
For Immediate Release
Ottawa, ON (February 3, 2020) – Effective today, Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) approved Shearwell tags are subject to program fee increases originally noted in the January 4, 2019, press release.  The earlier release noted that fee increases resulting from the ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) and Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) would “take place over the course of the next two years, varying by tag type according to the terms of the agreement and as tag inventories are replenished”.
 
The most recent fee increase will affect Shearwell tags at retail outlets starting today, raising the base price of ASET Single tags by $0.10/tag and ASET Double tags by $0.10/pair.
 

Wool Growers thrive amid global downturn

Written by Tom Van Dusen Friday, January 17, 2020

The century old woolgrowers'  co-op has seen sales rise even as global demand has dropped.

Carleton Place - Although it depends on an international market which has been experiencing “rough ride”, Canadian Co-Operative Wool Grower continues to post warm and fuzzy numbers. 
“Wool prices have been quite volatile which has created chaotic conditions for mills and de-valued inventories,” says CCWG General Manager, Eric Bjergso. “European processors have reported consumer demand has dropped by more than 20 per cent due to trade and economic uncertainty.”
Within this context, in the last fiscal, CCWG recorded gross sales of more than $11.5 million representing an increase of 11.2 % over the previous fiscal while achieving net income of $514,135 from all business operations.
In terms of wool production, a 9.7 % increase was recorded.
Profitablility was up at CCWG retail locations across the land to the tune of9.7 % over the previous discal year; as a result of the respectable numbers, the board of directors once again authourized a dividend payment o 7% to all...
Posted in Company News

Canadian shearer set a new world shearing record in a Waikato woolshed in New Zealand

Written by Angie Skerrett - NewsHub Monday, December 9, 2019

Congratulations to Pauline Bolay!

A Canadian shearer who set a new world shearing record in a Waikato woolshed on Saturday has paid tribute to a New Zealand shearing couple who were the inspiration for the challenge.
Pauline Bolay, who works for a shearing contractor in Waikaretu, smashed the women's solo eight-hour strongwool lambs record of 507.

Posted in Shearing News

Women's 8 hour Lamb World Record attempt

Written by CCWG Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Pauline Bolay from Manitoba will be in New Zealand for the Women's 8 hour Lamb World Record attempt on December 10, 2019.

Check out her Facebook event and give her your support!
    https://www.facebook.com/events/567922977343625  
 
Pauline Bolay is attempting the solo women’s 8 hour strong wool lamb record currently 507, held by Kerri- Jo Te Huia.
This will be held on Waikaretu Valley Road at a venue still to be decided, Waikaretu, South Auckland, N. Z.
Referees will be: Grant Borchardt (Convener) Australia, Bart Hadfield, Ian Buchanan, Robert McLaren N.Z
For more info, please go to http://shearingrecords.co.nz/
Posted in Shearing News

CCWG Wool Market and Business Update – Fall 2019

Written by CCWG Friday, November 15, 2019

CCWG Wool Market and Business Update – Fall 2019

2018 / 19 Wool Market Update

The wool market has been experiencing quite a rough ride for the current wool marketing year.  During the first quarter the market seemed to be on track for stable conditions with both fine wool and crossbred types achieving reasonable prices and demand.  There were expectations at the time that good progress was being made for a new China / USA trade agreement.

This situation however was short lived from April onwards as a number of factors came into play.  Traditionally the market for wool is at its best and consumer confidence is greatest when there is positive growth in global economies and a stable worldwide political environment.  The current situation of widespread indecision and uncertainty has had a detrimental effect on all value chain partners within the entire wool textile industry.  China is the world’s largest market for woolen garments of which approximately 45% is for domestic consumption and the remaining 55% for export.  The escalation of the China / USA...

Posted in Company News