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Once a mainstay of the Queensland economy, the wool and sheep industry has shrunk to a shadow of its former self thanks in part to prices, drought and wild dogs over many years. But a quiet rebuild is in underway with a massive commitment to exclusion fencing and flock restructure, farmers are keen to return to sheep when the rains also return.
Months after a nation-wide lockdown, Italy is easing restrictions. But are the Italian wool mills running and is there consumer demand for wool in Europe? Italy Country Manager for Woolmark, Francesco Magri, explains.
Additionally, we speak to Russell Pattinson about the Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s latest forecast of shorn wool production.
After years of drought, putting stock back onto precious green feed after drought/containment has many potentially expensive pitfalls.
Hear Dr Jillian Kelly speak about the do’s and dont’s of this crucial exercise.
On farm trials of new solar ear tags are delivering enormous amounts of data to build systems to monitor and manage sheep like never before. This ground-breaking research is opening up new areas of knowledge for sheep and flock behaviour.
From developing the outback to leading the wool industry and agriculture through some of its most difficult days.
Ian McLachlan AO was at the forefront of wool for many years but has never seen the future look so bright. Hear why.
Wild dogs are relentless; they decimate livestock, destroy wildlife, damage regional economies and spread diseases. How do you manage this problem? With a plan, a National Wild Dog Action Plan (NWDAP).
Hear from industry about what the NWDAP is, why it evolved, and how it helps restore communities, livestock and native animal populations across Australia.
Hear how shearing teams around Australia are managing and coping through COVID-19 restrictions.
The restrictions and loss of overseas workers is actually opening up important opportunities.
The wool industry has accumulated decades of skills and knowledge, so how are we passing this information down to the next generation? Two education initiatives, Hay Inc and the Peter Westblade Scholarship, speak to us about how their programs support young people in wool.
In these very difficult days, we hear the very latest from the largest processor and buyer of Australian wool: China. Lizzie Chen has been importing Australian wool on behalf of large Chinese mills since the 1990s.
With so much to complement each other how have so many sheep left what was the sheep/wheat zone? Will they come back and how? We head to WA to find out the opportunities and the appetite.
What will the current and future implications of Coronavirus (COVID-19) be for the Australian wool industry and its consumers? As the outbreak becomes a pandemic, AWI’s CEO Stuart McCullough shares his insight and rates the threat that COVID-19 could present to the wool supply chain.
Maggot and blowfly samples, fly genome sequencing, trialing vaccines: are all essential parts of AWI’s current flystrike prevention program to research the Australian blowfly and project flystrike control to the next level.
Hear the latest research update into flystrike R&D from AWI’s GM of Research, Dr Jane Littlejohn, to tackle this problem, which has always been and still is a huge detriment to the Australian wool industry.
How do feral species respond to bushfire and drought, and can we use these dire circumstances to our advantage in controlling feral populations?
Whether you’ve got wild dogs, foxes, goats, cats, rabbits, pigs or others, hear from NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Peter Fleming about practical control measures and research programs occurring to reduce ferals’ impact on your livestock enterprise.
Where and how do you start again after a bushfire? We head to the famous woolgrowing region of Kangaroo island where the scars are still raw but the spirit is still high. This young and motivated wool community is ready to start rebuilding after a horror summer despite one massive hindrance: the sea.
Hear how KI is approaching a massive rebuild and why it will all be worthwhile.
What does coronavirus mean for the Australian wool trade? Hear straight from the horse's mouth as China-based wool agent Lizzy Shen shares her insights on how the coronavirus might affect wool manufacturing in China. And from Australia, John Roberts, AWI General Manager - Eastern Hemisphere, discusses his experience living in China during the SARS outbreak in 2003.
Precision feeding in and out of containment, knowledge of pitfalls and shortcuts: this monster drought has taught many lessons.
Hear from the experts about sourcing feed and not losing stock when the drought finally ends; given the old saying that more stock are lost after a drought than during it.
Catastrophic fire conditions across the nation have put emergency livestock management into sharp focus. Qualified veterinarian and AWI General Manager of Research, Dr Jane Littlejohn, offers immediate advice to those who have been affected.
Despite how it may feel, the Australian wool industry hasn’t existed since the dawn of time. The first fleet, the first sheep, the first cloth… But who created the first cloth? Join us as we speak to the first textile company ever to use Australian wool.
And with the digital age well underway, education resources are rapidly transitioning online. Learn about a wool education initiative that keeps up with this global trend to digitally inform a growing audience on the benefits of wool.
Hear what Australian Wool Innovation Chief Executive Officer Stuart McCullough has to say about 2019 and what to look forward to in 2020. International demand for wool, key projects at AWI, assisting woolgrowers through and hopefully out of drought.
Australia's best-of-the-best shearers and woolhandlers from across the country migrate to Dubbo to represent their home states at the National Shearing and Wool Handling Championships of 2019.
We speak to trainers and competitors on the ground about their commitment to producing world-class wool harvesting standards and the prospects of recognising shearing as a sport in Australia.
With a massive reduction in the national flock, how do we make the Merino great again? Anthony Close, a 2019 Nuffield Farming Scholar, has travelled the world to investigate how we can reboot the flock.
Get married in your own Merino wool suit; a dream of woolgrower, Floyd Legge. And despite massive time barriers, he did it!
We host and hear from one of the largest garment retailers from the world’s largest economy.
After seeing the industry first-hand, what are the future opportunities for Australian wool in the great US of A?
It’s the hardest job known: shearing. Hear about a new project that uses biometrics to support shearers better. We also meet the latest AWI Nuffield Scholar, Tom Hooke, who is studying rotational grazing in the rangelands.
With a connection to the land and an extensive career in retail and the establishment of the Australian fashion industry, the AWI Chairman, Colette Garnsey is a jack of all trades. Making her debut on The Yarn, Colette shares with us her journey from farm to fashion, how she came to be on the AWI Board and most importantly, her priorities for AWI as Chairman.
Taking senior managers from some of the most respected brands in the world to where wool is grown with care and passion, how it is tested and sold is one of the roles of Australian Wool Innovation/The Woolmark Company.
Hear what these highly influential brands have to say about our industry; the people, animals and landscape behind the best natural fibre in the world.
The recent volatility of the Australian wool market has led to uncertainty about the future conditions of our market. But how is the global wool market being affected? We venture to China for the 2019 Nanjing Wool Market Conference, and hear from wool producing representatives around the world to discuss the current state and future of the wool market globally and in their respective regions.
Are you thinking about renovating an existing shearing shed or building a new one? Hear about AWI’s project on a new shearing shed design, the process and outcomes of a recent project.
With over 20% of children born to western lifestyles suffering from eczema, AWI is working hard to push wool’s wellness attributes to break into the skin health market
Uncertain seasons, new technology, new opportunities. There is no doubting the bright future for the sheep and wool industries, but how can it all be made easier?
Hear how farmers Chris Patmore and Zac Roberts make their enterprises more time and effort – efficient and the advice pasture expert Phil Barrett-Lennard has for those planning an easier system.
As we celebrate 100 episodes of The Yarn, we introduce you to what is largely an Australian wool manufacturing secret: ABMT textiles.
Julian Collins of ABMT gives an insight into the wool market nosedive but offers hope as well.
And we head to Vietnam to hear how wool is reducing its reliance on China and continually finding new markets.
Meet Stephen Glen, the latest winner of the Australian Fleece Competition and hear what it takes to grow a Grand Champion fleece: hint: not easy.
Also, Merineo is a brand-new baby range for newborns, it has taken a long time to break into this valuable market, how has Claire Hausler done it?
After a 3-week break, Australian wool auctions have returned with heavy losses for various reasons.
Hear from an insider: Scott Carmody talks through the exact reasons why the wool market has dropped so heavily a year after record highs.
On a positive note, we also hear from a very upbeat and innovative Australian Woolmark licensee who has a great view of the future for wool.
Colin McDowell is one of the world’s top fashion commentators. Having been a journalist for over 20 years, he has at one time or another written for every quality newspaper and magazine in Britain. Join Ellie and Colin in Wales as they talk about wool's past, present and future and Colin's work as a mentor and judge for the International Woolmark Prize.
Merino ewes can successfully lamb at 12 months of age, but it takes commitment and confidence. Hear the research behind the potential from James Whale, Meridian Ag who studied exactly this.
More resilient, more flexible, more productive:
Hear from the 2019 Southern Australia Grassland Society conference as Australia’s farmers look for better pastures for an uncertain future.
Real time monitoring of stock is unlocking many sheep secrets but using powerful computer learning, could we identify stock by facial recognition also?
WoolQ brings woolgrower closer to the consumer, hear the latest on this exciting new platform for wool.
What does it take and what does it cost to create a woolshed that is 100% off the grid?
The savings, the innovations, the opportunities and the future.
Hear it all from Peter and Jane Waters who have done it with their 4-stand, 2-press operation.
Woolmark’s Jeff Ma in downtown Shanghai explains China’s love for wool.
Travel to the Yorkshire mills in the UK and hear how innovation with Australian wool has kept new fabrics evolving after 200 years.
In Australia though, continuing drought is keeping supply of wool low, while feed and finance are tight for many who actually grow the fibre.
Managing risk and the associated rewards makes Australian farming one of the hardest jobs of all. However, there is a form guide and tools to significantly help manage risk and in turn, help business and ultimately your own well-being.
Cam Nicholson from Nicon Consulting has some key points to share.
From 10-pound pom to OAM, Bob Hall talks of the changes through 50 years as a sheep consultant and why the future looks so bright for sheep and wool.
160 students from right across Australia attended the National Merino Challenge (NMC) to learn about wool and sheep.
What do secondary and tertiary students learn and how does this provide a career pathway into the great Australian wool industry?
Hear from those who have made the NMC the great educational success story it is today.
Ian O’Connell has over 50 years working and training working dogs.
Hear what it takes to work better with your best mates.
China, Japan, Korea and India are giants when it comes to the processing and consumption of Australian wool but with the global economy slowing down, how is wool positioned to stay at high demand levels? Hear from Woolmark’s John Roberts, GM Eastern Hemisphere about the initiatives across Asia and also trade analyst Scott Carmody about the sentiment of the raw wool auction rooms.
Four years into the ten-year long MLP Project, the industry experts from the MLP Industry Steering Committee share the successes of the project so far and the outcomes the industry hopes to see in the future.
Woolgrower, historian and author of "Call of the Reed Warbler”, Charles Massy is now an advocate, hear why.
Merino wool competes in the world's oldest annual marathon alongside a growing international community of athletes.
Dr. Jason Trompf has a lifetime of experience as a researcher, consultant, facilitator and head of AWI's Victorian extension network, Best Wool, Best Lamb. AWI's Marius Cuming speaks to Jason about the four key pillars of practical change and the integration of education into farming communities. Jason also practices what he preaches, running around 3,000 meat composite ewes in the North East of Victoria.
Capping off our Western Australian series, we head to Cranmore farming to discuss the benefits of Merinos in a mixed farming operation. We also talk to AWI’s WA wild dog coordinator Meja Aldrich, about the management and control of wild dogs in sheep producing areas.
Shearing technique, shearing shed design and building, shearer training; it’s all in Don Boyle’s repertoire. Hear how one man went from a handpiece at 15 to over 20,000 sheep in one lifetime.
Having spent so long in sheds, he now designs and builds woolsheds with sheep, woolhandlers and shearers in mind. Hear what works for all.
The Sheep Collective has been formed to tell the stories of the people, sheep and landscape behind the live sheep trade. Can it continue and how? Hear Dr Holly Ludeman explain.
We head to Western Australia to hear how mixed farmers in the wheatbelt have improved their overall sheep/cropping enterprise by adopting electronic tagging and the AWI/RIST Lifetime Ewe Management course.
Head to far south west NSW and hear some of the epic stories of the Australian wool industry. Wool still plays a significant role for the farming families in this part of the world where horizons are broad, rains are rare but people are warm and welcoming despite facing some unique challenges.
Queensland farmers have been through a lot. From scorching droughts to the recent flooding and the persistent attacks from wild dogs, the elements have thrown everything at Queensland’s rural communities. But at the recent Australian Wool Network conference held in Longreach, the optimism of the Queensland woolgrowers shone through.
Ella Edwards and Anna Buckley from The Woolmark Company – AWI’s marketing arm – were invited to speak at the conference and interviewed woolgrower Peter Clark and AWN representative Greg Hunt about the conditions in Queensland and the attitude surrounding the wool industry.
From exclusion fencing to classing sheep, Peter and Greg give insight into Queensland’s wool industry and what the future holds for Queensland woolgrowers.
Thank you to AWN for inviting AWI to present at the conference and to the woolgrowers and staff for their hospitality.
How long does it take from sheep to shop? Who makes the decisions about what wool design and colour is ultimately seen at retail?
In this episode learn some of the ins and outs of the complicated, wonderful world of fashion and the Woolmark’s company’s key role involved throughout.
Merino consultant Craig Wilson discusses the Peter Westblade scholarship and the great opportunities around Merino into the future. Also, hear from Beyond the Bale editor Richard Smith about his favourite stories and how to get your stories in Australia’s most read wool magazine.
The wool market has started the year with strong demand followed by consolidation.
Given the ongoing drought, supply and what retail sales are doing in the key northern hemisphere winter, what can we expect this year for the wool market?
Hear from AWI trade consultant Scott Carmody and AWI graduate Ben Madgwick.
450 donors have grown the next 100 years of baggy greens for the Australian cricket team.
Gideon Haigh, the country’s best cricket writer, discusses his book celebrating this historic project. We also meet Stephen Field, a cricket-mad woolgrower who explains why he loves the the game and the fibre.
Woolgrower, innovator and agriculture entrepreneur Nigel Kerin speaks about innovations in the wool industry and what new technology he is keen to implement into his business.
Catriona Nicholls and Madeline Scott have been the movers and shakers in getting the Learn About Wool resource in alignment with Australia’s school curriculum.
Teachers can lift the free resource straight from the website or order a full Learn About Wool kit and deliver lesson plans that focus on Australian wool that is specific for their class.
We all want to make shearing less labour intensive but how to actually achieve this has stumped many shearers, engineers and entrepreneurs. Researchers at the University of Technology, Sydney are taking an entirely novel approach by creating possibly the worlds first 3D printed sheep in their quest to solve the robotic shearing quandary.
Hear from shearing legend and AWI’s Shearing Industry Development Manager Jim Murray, as he walks us through the potential these young innovators are uncovering for the Australian wool industry.
The wool market has enjoyed a very strong run over the last 12 months with the benchmark eastern market indicator up about 25% year on year. But in recent weeks, uncertainty has crept into the market. Today we examine, in some detail, both the short and the long-term drivers in the wool market.
We speak with AWI Trade Consultant Scott Carmody about the factors driving the wool price and then we head to the US to hear from the President of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, Steve Lamar who reveals the ins and outs of the trade war between China and the US and how it could potentially affect the Australian wool market.
Craig Heggaton from Kojonup in West Australia has a wool and sheep enterprise that has grown well beyond the woolshed and has a tip on keeping quality staff. Hear also from the manager of Tecka station in Argentina, a massive enterprise producing great fine Merino wool in a harsh climate.
Peta Slack-Smith, General Manager of Corporate Affairs at AWI interviewed a number of industry representatives at the consultation workshop organised by AWI this week.
Ed Storey, the Senior Vice President of Wool Producers Australia, Andrew Wood the Chair New South Wales Farmers Committee and President of the Wool Council and Alan Rae, the President of AgForce’s Sheep and Wool Board, reveal what they think about WoolPoll and the consultation process with AWI.
James Rebanks has become – unwittingly and unexpectedly – a house hold name. His book The Shepherd’s Life has been read by thousands, maybe millions of people, but first and foremost he is a shepherd from the north of England in Matterdale, Cumbria.
James spoke at the 2018 LambEx conference in Perth about his experience as a shepherd and we caught up with him afterward to capture some of his wisdom for The Yarn.
Many of Australia’s woolgrowers have been dealing with drought for many months, others are now slipping into it.
What help is at hand and what advice do the experts offer in terms of the key decisions that have to be made about stock, feed and finances?
As the inaugural Woolmark Performance Challenge charges on with some of the best millennial minds in the textile performance wear space, we speak with some of the finalists whose ideas and innovations have impressed the judges so much so that they are through to the next round of the Challenge.
Hosted in partnership with The Woolmark Company and sportswear giant adidas, the Challenge includes a two-day workshop to inspire and build capacity within these finalists before their final presentation at Outdoor Retailer, the largest outdoor sports expo and conference in the USA.
Her environmentally conscious philosophy creates an aura around the clothing of BODICE STUDIO and is causing a swell in the fashion world, but International Woolmark Prize womenswear winner Ruchika Sachdeva says she doesn’t follow trends, rather her clothes are built to weather the natural changes of a lifetime.
With three new functions now available on the WoolQ platform, doors are opening to new opportunities for all in the Australian wool industry. Listen in to find out what opportunities are opening for you.
Every country presents different challenges for wool growers and for South Africans, big cats and mining are two very large issues wool growers must face.
Scott Nicholson has taken up the Nuffield scholarship with both hands and is leading the charge in finding new ways to bring technology on-farm, whilst learning some great life lessons along the way.
We speak with four industry representatives, Geoff Power, Karen Huskinson, Scott Pickering and Chris Patmore, about their role in wild dog control and what the future holds for the sheep and wool industry.
Staggering results were achieved at Australian wool auctions this week.
But what are the factors involved in the EMI achieving both daily and weekly EMI records?
The Australian Wool industry is built on long standing trust and reputation for quality, but how easily could this be destroyed? Listen to Charlie Arnot at LambEx 2018 as he breaks down what’s needed to keep the industry on top.
From Lambex 2018: taking advantage of digital disruption.
Melissa Clarke-Reynolds is a digital strategist, foresight practitioner, maths geek and Beef and Lamb NZ independent director.
What sort of opportunities exist for sheep and woolgrowers in the brave new digital world.
Do you have trouble with your weaners? Are your rams at peak performance? Are your ewes performers or passengers?
New workshops designed to boost your on-farm productivity are rolling out across the country. Find out about them here.
AFL superstars, West Coast Eagles captain Shannon Hurn and Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe pair up for wool!
We catch them at a Fibre of Football photoshoot to hear about their connection to farming and the wool industry.
Two researchers tackle the big issues in the sheep and wool industry.
A full run down of AWI’s recent Breech Flystrike RD & E Technical Update. Hear from an organiser, speaker and attendee recapping the day’s proceedings.
We speak to two CEOs within the industry and get their take on where we need to invest to ensure the future of the wool industry.
Hear from AWI’s CEO Stuart McCullough as he speaks about the recommendations made in the Review of Performance and the next steps for the operation of the AWI.
What do retailers and brands really think about the wool industry? AWI’s Kelly McAvoy, Sam Cockedey and Peta Slack-Smith brought some of the biggest names in the industry Down Under to find out.
It’s used in the cattle industry, but can it be applied to the sheep industry? This project will discover whether selecting for sex is viable in the sheep industry.
Australia celebrates arguably our finest export through The Woolmark Company’s Wool Week.
Step behind the scenes and hear the passion behind the 2018 campaign.
Australia’s leading educational competition for young people interested in the wool industry.
Communal farming of flocks and rangelands, the average flock is just 200 but the Merino is so valued it is a “preferred” species according to the Lesotho government.
Hear from two very passionate woolgrowers: an Argentinian and New Zealander about growing wool and balancing work and life.
Young woolgrowers embarked on a study tour of China.
This is what they thought of the world’s biggest manufacturer of Australian wool.
Dr Kim Bunter of the University of New England explains her breakthrough work in scanning for foetus age.
This is some of the most exciting work in scanning since the technology developed for sheep in the 1980s.
The World Merino conference in Uruguay
Australian genetics in South America
What it is like running Merinos in Patagonia, Argentina
Wool has been placed at the front and centre of one of the world’s most prestigious running events: The Boston Marathon. Hear about how wool performs as experienced by four first time runners.
Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Michael Friend and PhD student Forough Ataollahi explain their project through the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation investigating supplementing ewes to increase lamb survival.
The Woolmark Company is the global authority when it comes to marketing Australian wool. So what does this actually entail? Hear from key international staff members about what they do to promote Australian wool.
AWI has interviewed 40 woolgrowers about their transition to a non-mulesed operation for a new publication.
Farmers speaking to farmers about their experience of protecting their flock against flystrike.
Will Wilson, Chair of WoolQ explains its launch, functionality and future.
The platform will roll out across 2018: hear what it all means.
The Breeding Leadership program brings young people in the wool industry together to build their business and communication skills to arm them for a future in the industry.
Emily King sat down with Jayde Cluff, Roy Elliot, Alex House and Oliver Vidor to discuss their experience of the course and their thoughts for the future of wool and their role in it.
Big data meets the sheep industry with the Merino Lifetime Productivity project but what will it mean? Hear how this ground-breaking project is opening genetic doors for the first time.
From AFL and rugby union, cricket, running and skiing ... wool and sport are a match made in heaven. Hear why these markets are growing for wool and the celebration of these links.
What does Lu Yan make of woolgrowing and how will this change her business?
From traditional Indian recycling practises to avalanche tracking NFC chip technology in water resistant wool, this year’s winners went above and beyond the judge’s expectations.
Hear from major retailers and their associations about why wool is winning in this vital global market and why AWI keeps them regularly informed about how Australian farmers care for their animals.
This episode explores two very different examples of provenance with two wool growers who have their wool and their wool story, sold at retail.
When selling wool to consumers, it's all about offering more. Find out why the global sports brand ADIDAS loves wool. We also head to Hong Kong to meet a hugely successful Chinese designer, who can't get enough of the world's best fibre.
What do luxury fashion in Paris and a farm near Burra have in common? Wool!
Join us as we explore wool’s global supply chain; speaking with woolgrowers, manufacturers, designers and everyone in between, about how they're working with the world's miracle fibre.
If you have feedback or a question you would like to raise as part of The Yarn podcast, please email The Yarn at theyarn@wool.com.
