Montana State University Opens New Wool Lab to Boost Regional Wool Industry
Montana State University has launched a new Wool Lab aimed at revitalizing the regional wool industry. The facility, managed by wool expert Brent Roeder, is located at the Fort Ellis Research and Teaching Farm. It provides agriculture students with hands-on experience in raising high-quality sheep. The lab, which opened in July, is part of a broader effort to make wool production more efficient and profitable for Montana's sheep ranchers. The Wool Lab was funded by a combination of legislative appropriations and private donations, costing approximately $10 million. The initiative comes as the U.S. sheep herd has decreased by 90% over the last 80 years, with Montana's wool production dwindling by two-thirds in the past 30 years. The lab aims to innovate cheaper ways to produce and process wool, with a focus on breeding sheep that produce wool comfortable enough to be worn next to the skin. 
