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Abstract
Excerpts: Before 1955, most United States wool was shipped in bags. Since that time, handlers have increasingly baled wool. Farmer Cooperative Service -- in cooperation with other agencies in the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M College, College Station, Tex. -- is conducting a study of wool transportation methods and costs in the United States. Because of the effect of baling on wool transportation, Farmer Cooperative Service made a preliminary survey of wool marketing and handling firms known to be baling wool to determine the following: Type of baling facilities used, effects of baling on transportation costs and facilities, and advantages and disadvantages in handling baled wool. Much of the material in this report came from that survey. Six firms presently baling wool in Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and California were interviewed. Trucking firms baling wool in Texas and New Mexico supplied additional information. Additional factors, other than transportation, also need to be considered by wool warehouse operators in deciding whether to bale their wool. For example, proper evaluation of wage rates, labor efficiency and availability, volume handled, type and size of building, costs of machinery, and appearance and salability of the wool are necessary to determine the possibilities for baling.