Farm Commodity Programs: Wool and Mohair

Publication Date: March 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Agriculture, forestry and fishing

Type:

Abstract:

Price support for wool and mohair became mandatory through legislation enacted in 1947 and in 1949. The National Wool Act of 1954 (P.L. 83-690) established direct payments for wool and mohair producers. The act's stated purpose was to encourage production of wool because it was considered an essential and strategic commodity. No similar purpose was stated for the mohair program. Subsequent legislation extended the wool and mohair support programs several times, until a provision in P.L. 103-130 required a phase out, ending with the 1995 marketing year.1 Subsequently, assistance was provided on an ad hoc basis for marketing years 1999 and 2000. Wool and mohair were not funded during marketing year 2001. P.L. 107-171, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, authorized marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments for wool and mohair producers for crop years 2002-2007. This report will be revised as circumstances warrant.