MECARDO – by Andrew Woods – “Australian Wool Innovation has stated it will progress with its Wool Exchange Portal (WEP) beyond the scoping stage and is now moving to the “discovery stage” where the portal is built. Expected industry benefits are $38 million over the first 15 years. In this article Mecardo puts this expected benefit into perspective.”
STOCK & LAND – by Annabelle Cleeland – “One of the country’s largest buyers of wool is bypassing the Australian auction system in favour of direct contractors with woolgrowers.
During the recent China Wool Industrial Association’s Wool Salon at Lal Lal Estate, near Ballarat, Tianyu Wool owner and president Qingnan Wen announced the creation of a woolgrower group which will circumvent the auction to supply China directly.”
CNBC – by Liza Tan – “The Achill farm in Australia’s New South Wales might not be where you’d expect to find a luxury brand, but this 2,500-hectare property is exactly where Ermenegildo Zegna wanted to be.
In 2014, the luxury fashion house bought a 60-percent stake in this family-run farm. For the company’s chairman, third-generation member Paolo, it was a good opportunity to work closely with wool growers to develop the right fibers for its products.”
THE WEEKLY TIMES – by Kate Dowler and Jamie-Lee Oldfield – “HIGH fine wool prices must produce a lift in the Merino flock and its productivity, or it could be “lights out” for the industry at the next major downturn.
So says Mecardo analyst Robert Herrmann, who told The Weekly Times the current rally “may be wool’s last big chance”.
While the tight supply of fine wool led to the current rally, the shortage also removed some processor capacity and customers, both of which must be rebuilt.”
SHEEP CENTRAL – by Terry Sim – “AUSTRALIAN WOOL Innovation’s proposed Wool Exchange Portal could be running within 16 months at a cost of $3-$4 million.”
STOCK & LAND – “THE sun was shining on day three of Stock & Land Sheep Week, where studs in north-west Victoria showed visitors around their properties.”
THE EXAMINER – by Johanna Baker-Dowdell – “Campbell Town merino and mixed cropping farmer Sam Lyne has welcomed higher prices for meat and wool to offset lower figures for his crops.
Mr Lyne, who farms at his property Riccarton his father Crosby Lyne and brother Angus Lyne, said merinos consistently returned profits of up to $60 per dry sheep equivalent and $40 for lambs.”
NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER – by Sally Cripps – “Pressure for more exclusion fence funds is building in Queensland in advance of next week’s state budget. After sheep and wool president Alan Rae made a call in April for another $5m, AgForce this week reiterated that the continued roll-out of wild dog exclusion fencing at the top of its budget wish list.”
STOCK & LAND – “Feed supplements, genetic technology and future Merino production system challenges will be under the spotlight at the MerinoLink Conference on later this month.
To be held at Mercure Goulburn on June 21, the conference will be followed by a field day on June 22 at Gunning showcasing the revolutionary upright shearing platform.”
WESTERN ADVOCATE – “AFTER weeks of positive sentiment in the wool market, it is slowly changing to the negative.
All merino categories lost ground for the fourth week in a row.”
