HDR1012000130080326971500Wool and Mohair                                        
                                                                                
Released March 26, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service        
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For     
information on "Wool and Mohair" call James Hand at (202) 690-3236, office      
hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                     1996 Wool Production Down 11 Percent                       
                                                                                
Shorn wool production in the United States during 1996 was 56.7 million         
pounds, down 11 percent from 1995. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 7.28 million   
head, a decrease of 11 percent from 1995.  The average price paid for wool sold 
in 1996 was $0.70 per pound for a total value of $39.7 million, down            
38 percent from $64.3 million in 1995.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Mohair production in the four major producing states (Arizona, New Mexico,      
Oklahoma, and Texas) during 1996 was 8.05 million pounds, down 33 percent       
from 1995.  Goats and kids clipped, at 1.20 million head, was down 26 percent   
from 1995.  Average weight per clip was 6.7 pounds compared with 7.4 pounds a   
year earlier. Value of mohair production was $15.5 million, down 30 percent     
from 1995.                                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Wool:  Production, Price, and Value, United States, 1994-96          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   Sheep    :   Weight   :   Shorn    :   Price    :             
     Year     :   Shorn    :    per     :    Wool    :    per     :    Value    
              :     1/     :   Fleece   : Production :   Pound    :             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1,000        Pounds       1,000       Dollars        1,000    
              :    Head                     Pounds                    Dollars   
              :                                                                 
1994          :    8,877        7.73        68,577         .78         52,377   
1995          :   *8,138        7.80        63,513        1.04        *64,277   
1996          :    7,279        7.79        56,669         .70         39,659   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Includes shearing at commercial feeding yards.                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Lv Gn 2 (3-97)                                                                  
          Mohair:  Production, Price, and Value, 4-State Total, 1994-96         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :            :  Average   :            :   Price    :             
     Year     :   Goats    :  Clip per  : Production :    per     :    Value    
              :  Clipped   :    Goat    :            :   Pound    :      1/     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1,000        Pounds       1,000       Dollars        1,000    
              :    Head                     Pounds                    Dollars   
              :                                                                 
1994          :   1,774         7.1         12,608        2.56         32,247   
1995          :   1,618         7.4        *12,019        1.84        *22,089   
1996          :   1,198         6.7          8,045        1.92         15,486   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
            Mohair:  Production, Price, and Value by Selected States            
                           and 4-State Total, 1995-96                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :             :   Average   :             :             :               
        :    Goats    :    Clip     :             :    Price    :               
        :   Clipped   :     per     : Production  :     per     :   Value 1/    
  State :             :    Goat     :             :    Pound    :               
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 : 1995  : 1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :    1,000        Pounds        1,000         Dollars         1,000     
        :--- Head ---               --- Pounds --                --- Dollars -- 
        :                                                                       
AZ      :   40     38   *4.5   4.2     *180   160   1.52   1.47     *274    235 
NM      :   85     80    4.0   4.0      340   320   1.66   1.61      564    515 
OK      :   23     10    7.8   7.5      180    75   1.73   1.73      311    130 
TX      :1,470  1,070    7.7   7.0   11,319 7,490   1.85   1.95   20,940 14,606 
        :                                                                       
4 Sts   :1,618  1,198    7.4   6.7  *12,019 8,045   1.84   1.92  *22,089 15,486 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Production multiplied by marketing year average price for individual States;
    4-State value is summation of State values.                                 
                                                                                
           Wool:  Number of Sheep and Lambs Shorn, Weight per Fleece,           
               and Production by State and United States, 1995-96               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :     Sheep Shorn     :  Weight per Fleece  :     Production      
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1995   :   1996   :   1995   :   1996   :   1995   :   1996   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              : --- 1,000 Head ---      --- Pounds ---      -- 1,000 Pounds --  
              :                                                                 
AL            :      7.0       5.0       6.0       6.0           42         30  
AK            :       .9       1.0      *7.8       7.0           *7          7  
AZ            :    140.0     125.0       6.8       6.0          950        750  
CA            :    690.0     640.0       7.6       7.6        5,250      4,860  
CO            :    540.0     605.0       7.3       7.1        3,960      4,318  
CT            :      4.5       5.4       7.6       6.5           34         35  
ID            :    233.0     239.0       9.3       9.3        2,164      2,228  
IL            :     86.0      85.0       6.9       6.7          590        570  
IN            :     70.0      67.0       6.8       6.4          475        430  
IA            :    345.0     335.0       6.0       6.0        2,070      2,000  
KS            :    144.0     111.0       7.0       7.0        1,010        780  
KY            :     18.0      15.5       6.8       6.5          123        100  
LA            :     10.0       9.0       5.5       6.1           55         55  
ME            :      7.5       8.0       7.9       7.0           59         56  
MD            :     21.0      24.0       8.7       6.7          182        161  
MA            :      6.0       9.0       7.3       7.0           44         63  
MI            :     85.0      81.0       7.7       7.6          658        615  
MN            :    170.0     170.0       6.8       6.6        1,150      1,120  
MO            :     90.0      77.0      *6.4       6.7         *572        513  
MT            :    468.0     434.0       9.4       9.6        4,413      4,150  
NE            :     90.0      97.0       7.6       7.4          680        720  
NV            :     74.0      70.0       9.2       9.6          680        669  
NH            :     *5.1       5.1      *7.1       7.1          *36         36  
NJ            :     10.0      14.0       9.3       6.9           93         96  
NM            :    340.0     305.0       8.8       9.0        3,000      2,753  
NY            :     54.0      53.0       7.0       7.1          380        377  
NC            :     10.5      10.6       6.9       6.7           72         71  
ND            :   *115.0     110.0       9.1       8.8       *1,045        965  
OH            :   *156.0     133.0      *7.1       6.8       *1,100        910  
OK            :     52.0      36.0       6.3       6.4          330        230  
OR            :    360.0     340.0       6.7       6.6        2,412      2,245  
PA            :     81.0      72.0       6.9       6.9          560        500  
SD            :    460.0     420.0       8.6       8.5        3,967      3,580  
TN            :     10.0      10.0       7.5       6.0           75         60  
TX            :  1,820.0   1,320.0       7.4       7.5       13,468      9,900  
UT            :   *364.0     336.0      *9.6       9.2        3,500      3,090  
VT            :    *12.5      14.5      *7.2       7.2          *90        105  
VA            :     58.0      56.0       6.2       6.2          358        346  
WA            :     44.0      48.0       8.5       8.9          375        426  
WV            :     54.0      45.0       6.3       6.0          340        270  
WI            :     67.0      63.0       7.8       7.5          525        470  
WY            :    730.0     640.0       8.8       9.1        6,411      5,811  
              :                                                                 
Oth Sts 1/    :     35.1      34.7       5.9       5.7          208        198  
              :                                                                 
US            : *8,138.1   7,278.8       7.8       7.8      *63,513     56,669  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  AR, DE, FL, GA, HI, MS, RI, and SC.                                         
                                                                                
           Wool:  Price and Value by State and United States, 1995-96           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :        Price per Pound        :           Value 1/            
      State     :---------------------------------------------------------------
                :     1995      :     1996      :     1995      :     1996      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :     ------ Dollars -----           ---- 1,000 Dollars ---     
                :                                                               
AL              :     1.15             .38                48             11     
AK              :     1.25             .90                *9              6     
AZ              :      .62             .61               589            458     
CA              :     1.02             .67             5,355          3,256     
CO              :     1.09             .73             4,316          3,152     
CT              :      .78             .40                27             14     
ID              :      .88             .62             1,904          1,381     
IL              :      .55             .34               325            194     
IN              :      .55             .31               261            133     
IA              :      .60             .39             1,242            780     
KS              :      .83             .51               838            398     
KY              :      .70             .33                86             33     
LA              :      .68             .33                37             18     
ME              :      .76             .45                45             25     
MD              :      .81             .49               147             79     
MA              :      .80             .40                35             25     
MI              :      .68             .36               447            221     
MN              :      .64             .43               736            482     
MO              :      .64             .36              *366            185     
MT              :     1.23             .94             5,428          3,901     
NE              :      .65             .49               442            353     
NV              :     1.08             .69               734            462     
NH              :      .98             .60               *35             22     
NJ              :      .76             .78                71             75     
NM              :     1.17             .85             3,510          2,340     
NY              :      .84             .55               319            207     
NC              :      .85             .62                61             44     
ND              :      .94             .70              *982            676     
OH              :      .65             .39              *715            355     
OK              :      .79             .50               261            115     
OR              :      .80             .45             1,930          1,010     
PA              :      .78             .49               437            245     
SD              :     1.08             .77             4,284          2,757     
TN              :      .82             .42                62             25     
TX              :     1.15             .84            15,488          8,316     
UT              :     1.01             .65             3,535          2,009     
VT              :      .84             .60               *76             63     
VA              :      .88             .48               315            166     
WA              :      .84             .60               315            256     
WV              :      .88             .51               299            138     
WI              :      .62             .42               326            197     
WY              :     1.20             .86             7,693          4,997     
                :                                                               
Oth Sts 2/      :      .70             .40               146             79     
                :                                                               
US              :     1.04             .70           *64,277         39,659     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Production multiplied by marketing year average price.  U.S. value is       
    summation of State values.                                                  
2/  AR, DE, FL, GA, MS, RI, SC.                                                 
                                                                                
        Reliability of Wool and Mohair Production Estimates                     
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  A random sample of U. S. producers was surveyed to provide  
                      data for the  number of sheep shorn and production        
estimates. Survey procedures ensured that all sheep and goat producers,         
regardless of size, had a chance to be included in the survey.  Large           
producers were sampled more heavily than small operations.  Data were           
collected from about 16,000 operators during the first half of January by       
mail, telephone, and face-to-face personal interviews.                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Estimation Procedures:  These sheep shorn, wool and mohair production           
                        estimates were prepared by the Agricultural Statistics  
Board after reviewing recommendations and analysis submitted by each State      
office.  National and State survey data were reviewed for reasonableness with   
each other and with estimates from past years.                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve the       
                  current estimate.   Previous year estimates are subject to    
revision when current estimates are made.  Inventory estimates will also be     
reviewed after data from the Department of Commerce's five-year Census of       
Agriculture are available.  No revisions will be made after that date.          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Reliability:  Since all operations raising sheep and goats are not included in  
              the sample for  the inventory and  production estimates, survey   
data are subject to sampling variability.  Survey results for inventory and     
production estimates are also subject to non-sampling errors, such as           
omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing   
the data.  The effects of these errors cannot be measured directly.  They are   
minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and     
through a careful review of all reported data for consistency and               
reasonableness.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the estimates in this report,  
the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the table below.    
The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past             
performance and is computed using the differences between first and latest      
estimates.  The "Root Mean Square Error" for sheep shorn estimates over the     
past 10 years is 0.5 percent.  This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the  
final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 7.3 million   
head by more than 0.5 percent, or about 36,500 head. Chances are 9 out of 10    
that the difference will not exceed 1.0 percent, or about 72,800 head (the 90   
percent confidence level).                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
Also shown in the table is a 10-year record showing the range between the       
first estimate and the latest estimate. Using estimates for Sheep and Lambs     
Shorn as an example, changes between the first inventory estimate and the       
latest estimate during the past 10 years have averaged 44,100 head, ranging     
from 4,400 to 104,000 head.  The inventory estimate of Sheep and Lambs Shorn    
has been below the latest estimate 6 times and above 4 times in the last 10     
years.                                                                          
                                                                                
        Reliability of U.S. Sheep Shorn and Wool Production Estimates 1/        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :       :             :      Difference Between      :                    
      : Root  :             :       First and Latest       :     Number of      
      : Mean  :     90%     :          Estimates           :       Years        
 Item :Square : Confidence  :---------------------------------------------------
      : Error :    Level    :         :          :         :  First  :  First   
      :       :             : Average : Smallest : Largest :  Above  :  Below   
      :       :             :         :          :         : Latest  :  Latest  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :  ----- Percent ----    -------- 1,000 Head -------         Number       
      :                                                                         
Sheep :                                                                         
 Shorn:                                                                         
      :  .5     1.0    72.8     44.1       4.4       104.8      4         6     
      :                              1,000 Pounds                               
      :                                                                         
Wool  :                                                                         
 Prod :  .6     1.2   680.0    359.3      16.0     1,307.0      4         6     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Based on data from 1996 through 1995.                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Wool and Mohair" report will be released in March 1998.               
                                                                                
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with    
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program         
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA     
Office of Communications at (202) 720-2791.                                     
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,      
D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is   
an equal employment opportunity employer.                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                         SUBSCRIBE TODAY!!                                      
                                                                                
For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data       
products, and services:                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          INTERNET ACCESS                                       
                                                                                
All NASS reports are now available free of charge on the worldwide Internet.    
For access, connect to the Internet and select:                                 
                                                                                
   1.  Worldwide Web:  http://www.usda.gov/nass/       OR                       
                                                                                
   2.  For Gopher/Telenet/FTP access:                                           
       HOST=usda.mannlib.cornell.edu        OR                                  
                                                                                
   3.  For a subscription direct to your e-mail address,                        
       send an e-mail message to:  usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu        
       and in the body of the message type the word:  list                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          AUTOFAX ACCESS                                        
                                                                                
NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine.  Please    
call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax.  Respond to the      
voice prompts.                                                                  
                                                                                
                 PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS                               
                                                                                
 CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK:   1-800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada)              
       Other areas, please call l-703-834-0125         FAX:  1-703-834-0110     
(Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.)               
                                                                                
                            ASSISTANCE                                          
                                                                                
For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information      
about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics     
HOTLINE at 1-800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail:                
NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.