ALTHOUGH the severe impact of foot and mouth has devastated the British Wool Marketing Board's plans, the organisation will adapt and continue to play an important part in the future of the sheep industry, said the board's chairman, Frank Langrish, in his annual report.

He said sales were on target, costs well under control and plans for investment and development underway. With blanket restrictions on the movement of animal products, all grading depots were closed and collection of last season's wool had finished at 44m.kg, down from 45.7m.kg the year before. As a result, costs for last year had increased from 18.5p/kg to 19.7p/kg.

Understandably, with more than 65 per cent of the clip normally exported, demand for British wool had been affected and its reputation in the very competitive world market blemished.

In the circumstances, said Mr Langrish, the board decided to pay a more conservative balance, and although this might be disappointing, he pointed out that because of the board's management, Britain's 71,344 registered growers (74,995 last year) were receiving the best producer prices in Europe.