There is money in wool if you don't have black faced sheep, especially Suffolks.  Helps that there is a gov payment.  The LDP works like any commodity.  Have to sign up before you lose control of the wool. Sign the paper, sell the wool, collect on the pounds sold.   Payment right now is $.29 lb and white faced wool brings in the $.40's.  We get 11 to 12 lbs to a girl.  Shearing cost $3.75/head.

Scrapie tags need to be in any sheep over 1 year of age when sold.  Tags and tagger are provided free of charge by USDA.  I believe the sales barn vets charge if an animal is sold and doesn't have the tag in.

The good times will stay in sheep until the imports get out of line.  For right now, imports have dried up.  Could be the low US dollar.