Agriculture in Mallorca: The farms will be able to use the wool of their sheep for agricultural uses

2023-05-26 18:21:16

Farms may use the wool of their sheep for agricultural purposes. This is a decision authorized by the General Directorate of Agriculture that aims to respond to the current situation of wool in Mallorca. This decision has been possible thanks to the pPilot project to study the feasibility of Majorcan sheep’s wool as an applicable material in the industrial sector developed by Mallorca Rural and the actions of the veterinarians of the Department of Agriculture.

In this case, the Association of Ecological Agricultural Production of Mallorca (APAEMA) develops the technical assistance of this initiative and as a result of said project a new use of dirty wool arises in the own farm of origin with an exclusively agricultural use, for example, as composting or mulching trees. Of course, for any other industrial or off-farm use, the wool must follow the usual process since wool is considered an animal by-product SANDACH3.

Agriculture in Mallorca: The farms may use the wool of their sheep for agricultural purposes. PERE JOAN OLIVER

With this decision authorized by the ministry, the general director of Agriculture, Fernando Fernández, explains that if responds to the claim of the livestock sector who has seen how wool has become a reject product with no commercial value and without use on the farms since the regulations require that it be transferred to specific treatment plants at a cost for the producer. “It was a request from the farmers since now that it is time to shear the sheep, the wool became a problem for them,” Fernández specifies.

For this reason, the General Directorate of Agriculture has sent a technical note addressed to the veterinary services of the regional delegations, Sanitary Defense Associations (ADS) and collaborating entities, explaining the permitted uses of wool on farms.

Guide

The future of the Mallorca Rural pilot project lies in develop a Guide to Good Agricultural Practices in coordination with the veterinarians of the General Directorate of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development. Said document will contemplate new agricultural activities for the use of the resource so that the wool can be made to serve as liquid fertilizer or that washing can be done on the farm itself. Of course, these activities not yet approved would be accompanied by Training for farmers and ranchers.

The pilot feasibility project for Majorcan sheep’s wool as an applicable material in the industrial sector is developed by Mallorca Rural and APAEMA and has been financed through FEADER funds, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Department of Agriculture, Fishing and Food.