The Yarn

Over decades, Australian Wool Innovation has invested extensively to help woolgrowers protect their stock from flystrike. Hear just what is available to woolgrowers in this regard, to keep Australian woolgrowers the very best in the world.

The biggest sheep experiment in the world is drawing to a close and with it a treasure trove of data to explore. With the New England MLP site has come the added opportunity to develop Flystrike Breeding Values: hear from the experts about how this MLP site has been crucial in driving the Merino industry forward.

Vietnam has been an emerging market for Australian wool for some years with some significant headway now achieved. Hear from Trudie Frederich, Regional Development Manager - Emerging Markets & India about how Vietnam is becoming a growing supply chain for Australian wool.

Woolmark regional manager for Western Europe Damien Pommeret discusses in detail the large amount of work Woolmark conducts on behalf of woolgrowers in this important market. In particular highlighting the renewable and biodegradable nature of wool in a world of fast fashion.

With the third largest GDP, Japan has been a significant market for wool for a long time. South Korea also as a cold climate country with a large population is a growing market for wool. Samuel Cockedey is the Woolmark manager for these two important markets and explains why he is upbeat about the natural fibre’s future in these markets.

Italy is one of the style-capitals of the world with leading brands as well as some of the globe’s significant upmarket wool processors and manufacturers. Hear AWI/Woolmark regional manager for central and eastern Europe, Francesco Magri discuss the latest wool campaigns and trends in Italy and why he is optimistic for our fibre in this crucial market.

China is by far the largest destination for Australian wool, not only got processing but also, ultimately, sales. What is less known is the dependence of the enormous Chinese wool processing industry on Australian Merino wool. Hear AWI/Woolmark Country Manager Jeff Ma discuss the latest developments for our fibre within China and why he believes Australia and China with stay wool-dependent on each other for a very long time.

A kiwi shearer with a great eye for innovation, Wayne is known for his very successful crutching trailers but now has a system that uses a board that can change height to allow shearing also. Hear how Wayne is also thinking of what could be done to harvest wool using biological harvesting.

The much-maligned Merino weaner is a vital part of any self-replacing Merino enterprise but often the cause of great frustration in working out how to get the best from them. Megan Rogers of AWI Sheep Connect NSW speaks with two woolgrowers have been through the trials and come out winning with weaners with a few, simple tweaks and are reaping the rewards: Tony Overton from Walcha and Rob Kelly from Guyra.

One of the superstars of agriculture is Anna Speer, from pastoral experience as a jillaroo to the Livestock Exchange, CEO of Auctions Plus to chief operating officer at AACo and now managing director of Greenstock or Woolworths Meat, Anna has quickly become one of Australian agriculture’s most influential figures. What does she make of the juggernaut that is regenerative agriculture and what is the future of the relationship between modern consumers and farmers?