Photo Courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

How organic wool production differs from conventional methods.
Like other organic livestock producers, organic sheep farmers must provide organic feed and refrain from using antibiotics or growth hormones with their sheep. In addition, organic livestock management for the production of organic wool draws two important distinctions from that of non-organic producers that use conventional methods. First is the elimination of the practice of "dipping" sheep in order to control external parasites. Commonly, sheep are submerged in pools, which contain organophosphate based paraciticides .

Studies of the effects of workers' exposure to organophosphate sheep dip have found that repeated exposure is associated with subtle changes in the nervous system of those who apply these pesticides, not to mention thow the sheep might be effected. The use of these dips pose a risk to the environment because of the disposal of these agents in the fields can contaminate our ground water system.

Secondly, organic livestock producers are required to make sure that the devastating effects of overgrazing will never occur. In organic production, if the prices of wool go down the farmers cannot just simply increase their production per unit of land as they do in conventional methods. Organic producers must always use farming practices that ensure the long time viability and productivity of the land on which their animals depend.

Reasons to choose organic wool
When you choose organic wool, you are in turn strengthening family farms, protecting community values, providing good profits to the farmers, enhancing rather than exploiting the environment, and renewing our natural and economic resources for future generations. Chemically sensitive individuals might consider using wool products that have been raised organically and processed without detergents, dyes, and other irritating substances.

Find Organic Trade Association member companies who sell yarn directly to consumers on the internet at www.TheOrganicPages.com