The Yarn

The Merino Lifetime Productivity Project or MLP is a decade long project assessing the lifetime genetic merit of 5700 sheep. AWI and the Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Association (AMSEA) have teamed up with five sire evaluation sites, site hosts and nominating stud breeders to deliver a project is worth $8 million dollars in funding from AWI over ten years from 2015, along with $5 million in support from project partners. Hear how the first results are breaking some long held myths and uncovering new knowledge of the animal that helped build modern Australia.

After many hours of trials in sheds thanks to shearers and researchers alike, being able to detect muscle fatigue and therefore prevent injury is getting much closer. Hear the latest on this innovative approach to prolonging shearer’s careers, improving shearer training as well as the latest new handpiece design.

A humble wool industry leader, Geoff Power grew up in Melbourne before becoming a woolgrower in the South Australian Flinders Ranges. He has been instrumental in protecting the national flock from wild dogs and has lead national and state woolgrowing organisations on the way to receiving the Wool Industry Medal in 2017. Hear his amazing journey and why he is so optimistic about the future of our fibre.

With a warm and wet summer on the cards for many Australian woolgrowers, the risk of flystrike over the coming months has heightened. Maximise the effectiveness of your flystrike chemical applications and slow chemical resistance developing, through these practical tips and reminders from AWI’s Research team.

A newly created network for young people in the wool industry, aims to connect, educate and empower the next generation. The Young Wool Group’s founder, Monica Ley, explains why she created the initiative, and how all industry participants can be involved.

It has many people talking but what do the shearers and woolgrowers themselves think of a machine that removes the catch and drag from shearing? Head to a working woolshed and hear for yourself!

Displaying dead wild dogs on fences and trees was once a way of letting locals and farmers know that wild dogs were in the area, now these displays undermine support for wild dog management activities. Ian Evans, AWI’s Program Manager Vertebrate Pests, explains the history of the tradition, and an effective alternative for the 21st century: FeralScan™.

As the world still drags itself away from the COVID pandemic, we examine how our fibre fared in 2021 and the challenges ahead. We hear from experts across on farm research and product development as to the big developments coming our way.

Living on the Australian land in a regional communities is a fortunate and unique way of life. But how often do we see a true representation of our livelihoods on modern TV? Producer Bec Bignell, formerly from Kojonup, has made it her mission to showcase the authentic version of regional Australia to a broader audience. With a team of like-minded creatives, Bec produced an Australian series called ‘Homespun’ to show woolgrowers, shearers, shed staff and the local community in a modern way.

The COVID 19 pandemic continues to throw up challenges and postal delays in delivering voting papers in another. However, voting and indeed taking part in the 2021 AWI AGM is relatively easy. Hear AWI Company Secretary Jim Story walk you through it.