The Yarn

It’s a lot of money, a lot of wire and a lot of land, but the revolution of cluster fencing has kept many wild dogs out and allowed for the reintroduction of sheep to many pastoral areas of Australia. In central west Queensland, a cluster fencing program has now protected an area larger than Hong Kong. Hear from RAPAD’s Morgan Gronold and woolgrower David Owens about the endless positive impacts the fences have brought to businesses, livelihoods and communities in the region.

The COVID pandemic has placed great pressure on shearing across the country. Glenn Haynes from the Shearing Contractors Association explains how a huge effort to train more shearers and increase retention has helped turn the tide, helping make the Australian industry more labour self-sufficient

The Australian Merino Lamb Trial examined if a wether trading operation could pay for the crops the animals grazed. Hear the results and many of the very surprising findings from this innovative on farm study.

The ingredients of a successful new shearing shed are the woolgrower, builder and shearing contractor, all being involved in the decision-making process throughout the shed’s construction. The new shearing shed at Geoff and Linda Bilney’s ‘Broome Farms’ property in WA, is based off AWI’s shed design and will shear over 65,000 sheep annually. We speak to their builder and shearing contractor who explain the costs, design and long-term benefits to all in this shed built through collaboration.

Meet two young-ish people who years ago took a big chance with wool and have won. Both woolgrowers, Allan Harris is also a breeder and Alister Carr a wool broker. They talk through why they did and why their successful businesses now look so bright.

Post drought, many woolgrowers have enjoyed a good season and now a wet summer which has created issues for fly and worm control. Hear experts talk through the best way to manage these very significant issues this summer to keep your flock safe.

Despite significant challenges, wool marketing has adapted during the global pandemic with strong results. Hear how Woolmark has partnered with effective channels to get the messages of versatility and modernity to a more discerning consumer.

Shared ledger technology is changing supply chains and offers transparency, traceability and provenance. This is what consumers, brands and manufacturers are wanting more of from wool. So what’s the go?

Despite larger offerings and a stronger Australian dollar the wool market has lifted to start the 2021 calendar year. What is driving this current market and can it last? Hear the analysis with AWI Trade Consultant Scott Carmody.

The dream of owning your own sheep farm seems harder than ever given property prices. However, an innovative way of matching aspiring farmers and retiring farmers is making the dream a reality for a new generation of farmers who bring new ideas and new energy to Australia’s food and fibre industries.