SHEEP producers can find out how to improve the value of their wool clip at North Sheep on Wednesday.

Ian Brooksbank, head grader at British Wool’s Bradford depot, will run a workshop on how wool is graded highlighting where wool can gain and lose value.

In most instances, this is largely down to management and clip presentation, both of which can often be improved to ensure producers make the most of what they produce.

North Sheep is at West Shields Farm, Tow Law, and the workshop is at 11.15am.

Carl Stephenson, regional board member for Northern England, said: “NSA North Sheep is an important event for British Wool as it gives us the opportunity to meet our northern producers face to face, updating them on what British Wool is striving to achieve on their behalf.”

“Staff and board members will be available to answer any questions and we will be giving the latest information as to what producers can do themselves, on farm, to maximise the return on their clip.”

British Wool representatives will outline the recent and upcoming activity of the organisation and will update visitors on the latest wool values for this year’s clip.

Over the past 12 months, the global market for wool has been challenging and British Wool is keen to show producers how it is working to modernise the business and improve efficiency.

At noon, a presentation will be held for Gordon Capstick who is retiring as the regional committee member for Westmorland after 15 years.

Among a number of seminars on the day is one designed to help farmers see how their own business may fair when subsidy and environmental schemes either change or end.

It will be given by Andrew Entwistle and Simon Britton, partners at George F White at 10am.

Mr Entwistle said: “With Brexit looming and the future of subsidies and environmental schemes uncertain, business resilience is a hot topic for farmers.”

“Being sufficiently aware of where the business bottom line is, and also the various legal constraints involved, is a must in negotiating a new environmental scheme. This seminar will explore how sheep farmers should be prepared for the changes ahead.”

Mr Britton said: “Those who attend will learn about principles of negotiation, understanding business and legal obligations and what you can and cannot do, how to analyse the current financial position of their rural business, taking into account funding, cash pressure, environmental schemes and business succession.” The seminar is at 10am.

Visitors will also have the chance to learn about the latest genomic research being undertaken by the Texel Sheep Society looking at carcass quality and disease issues.

John Yates, society chief executive, said the project could be the first step towards carcass data from abattoirs being included in genetic evaluations. It will use CT scanning and video image analysis (VIA) to generate data on carcase characteristics.

Intended to lead to the development of genomic breeding values (GEBVs) for key carcass traits, the £1.6m project is part funded by Innovate UK and will see thousands of Texel-sired lamb carcasses analysed to provide detailed information on the relative lean meat yields.

Joanne Connington, SRUC livestock geneticist, said: “Having more information with which to select breeding animals, gives breeders flexibility to favour animals with specific attributes that better meet market specifications, as well as improving host resistance to economically-important, endemic diseases.”