ISSUE 65 DECEMBER 2015 PROFIT FROM WOOL INNOVATION www.wool.com INTERNATIONAL WOOLMARK PRIZE WINNER VISITS THE SOURCE 08 34 44 INTERNATIONAL BOOSTING RABBIT LIFETIME EWE CAMPAIGN FOR WOOL BIOCONTROL MANAGEMENT 4 IWP WINNER 32 CHOOSING VISITS THE FARM AND USING DRENCHES EXECUTIVE EDITOR Richard Smith E [email protected] A AWI Marketing and Communications OFF-FARM ON-FARM L6, 68 Harrington St, The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 4177, Sydney NSW 2001 4 IWP winner visits the farm 28 Young Farming Champions P 02 8295 3100 E [email protected] W wool.com 6 Textile innovations at IWP 31 Low cost cervical AI AWI Helpline 1800 070 099 SUBSCRIPTION 7 Stephanie Field home grown talent 32 Choosing and using drenches Beyond the Bale is available free. To subscribe contact AWI 8 Campaign for Wool 34 Boosting rabbit biocontrol P 02 8295 3100 E [email protected] Beyond the Bale is published by Australian 12 Perfect women’s wool pants 36 Coordination for wild dog control Wool Innovation Ltd (AWI), a company funded by Australian woolgrowers and the 13 Promoting wool in Turkey 38 Elmore Field Days: results Australian Government. AWI’s goal is to help increase the demand for wool by actively selling Merino wool and its attributes through 14 World record Merino bale 41 Cover combs in the heat of action investments in marketing, innovation and R&D – from farm to fashion and interiors. 15 Tailor made experience down under 42 Shearing and wool handling champs COPYRIGHT Material in Beyond the Bale is copyright. 16 GQ magazine promotes wool 43 Courses creating job ready shed staff Reproduction of the material is encouraged. However prior permission must be obtained 18 Neulana luxury wool fabric launch 44 Lifetime Ewe Management from the Executive Editor. DISCLAIMER 19 Woolrich Merino outerwear 46 Nuffield scholar Jack England To the extent permitted by law, Australian Wool Innovation Ltd excludes all liability for 20 Hong Kong fashion students to Australia 47 Horizon scholar Royce Pitchford loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained in this publication 21 Wool4School winner 48 Funding strategies for young producers The Woolmark symbol is a registered trademark of The Woolmark Company Pty Ltd. 49 Succession planning © 2015 Australian Wool Innovation Ltd. All 22 Education highlights rights reserved. 24 Fibre of Football 50 Native shelterbelts ADVERTISING SALES Max Hyde, Hyde Media Pty Ltd 51 2016 IWTO Congress in Sydney P 03 5659 5292 26 Bluey Merino’s super soft fibres E [email protected] Advertising is subject to terms and conditions 27 Wool’s fire resistant properties 52 Market Intelligence published on the ratecard, which is available from Hyde Media. 54 Market insights from Peter Ackroyd ISSN 1447-9680 55 Readers’ photos FRONT COVER 2015 International Woolmark Prize womenswear winner Marcia Patmos, of design label M.PATMOS, on her visit to AWI INVESTMENT STRATEGIES Australia in October to see for herself the source of Merino wool and launch her winning On-Farm R&D Off-Farm R&D collection, now available at David Jones. PHOTO: Dominic Loneragan. See page 4. Marketing Global Business Services WOOLMARK.COM MERINO.COM WOOL.COM facebook.com/TheWoolmarkCompany To subscribe to the free monthly AWI e-newsletter for woolgrowers, and the weekly wool market review e-newsletter, visit www.wool.com/subscribe twitter.com/woolmark twitter.com/woolinnovation instagram.com/TheWoolmarkCompany youtube.com/AWIWoolProduction youtube.com/TheWoolmarkCompany View Beyond the Bale online with image galleries BtB and video at http://beyondthebale.wool.com AWI CEO Stuart McCullough at the AWI 2015 AGM. GD1823 UPFRONT 3 WOOLGROWERS VOTE TO RETAIN 2% LEVY “We will continue to measure the performance As in previous Polls, eligible levy payers were of all aspects of AWI, but we must explore new invited to select their preferred levy option and innovative ways to make wool-growing from 0%, 1%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%. easier and more profitable. We must also educate more designers and brands to use WoolPoll follows strict guidelines set out in wool and in turn more consumers around the the WoolPoll Regulations as an independent, world to wear wool.” democratic process. The results have been certified by the Returning Officer from Link ustralian woolgrowers have voted to Mr McCullough acknowledged the efforts Market Services Limited. Amaintain the two per cent levy on wool of the WoolPoll Panel and its Chairman Will sales to fund research, development and Roberts in encouraging participation and The result was announced at the AWI Annual marketing of the natural fibre. ensuring the voting process was conducted General Meeting on 20 November. in compliance with the regulations. CEO Stuart McCullough thanked woolgrowers for participating and showing SUMMARY OF WOOLPOLL RESULTS faith in AWI to continue its work to increase the profitability of growing wool. % of votes % of votes for % of votes WOOLPOLL YEAR returned 2% and above for below 2% "We take the responsibility of investing woolgrowers’ levies very seriously, so we 2003 54.59 63.10 36.93 are heartened the level of support for the 2006 51.57 69.50 30.49 2% levy rate increased this year. WoolPoll is a transparent and fair way for 2009 53.70 73.13 26.87 woolgrowers to decide our future funding 2012 60.94 60.34 39.65 and the opportunity to vote zero is an option the AWI Board is pleased must 2015 50.68 67.86 32.14 always be offered. Figures might not add due to rounding. AWI ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: A STRONG YEAR IN 2015 AND A NEW DIRECTOR t its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on increasing as reflected in increasing revenue report to the AWI Board and the report was A20 November, AWI reported on a year from Woolmark licenses. We will continue to appended to the Notice of Annual General of strong results for woolgrowers across find innovative fabrics using wool and seek Meeting as part of the AWI shareholder research, development and marketing. new ways to exchange wool via the Wool voting pack. Selling Systems Review.” Addressing the meeting and via a webcast, At the AGM, Messrs Merriman, Webster AWI CEO Stuart McCullough highlighted AWI Chairman Wal Merriman reported to and Laurie were duly elected to the AWI the efforts to lift demand for Australian the AGM how his Board continues to set Board. The new Board met immediately wool through ongoing marketing initiatives the strategic direction of the company. He following the AGM and re-elected Wal and new fabric innovations, protecting the acknowledged the long service of director Brian Merriman as Chairman. national flock from issues such as van Rooyen who had chosen not to re-stand for wild dog predation and increasing election, serving as a director of AWI since 2002. productivity through programs such as Lifetime Ewe Management. DIRECTOR ELECTIONS VIEW A RECORDING OF THE AGM The AWI Constitution stipulates at least “We appreciate that wool prices must lift The 2015 AWI AGM was broadcast live a third of the Board, currently made up of to keep and attract more woolgrowers,” he via webcast on 20 November. said. “The retail, brand and manufacturing seven members, must retire their positions partners joining our marketing programs are every two years. In 2015, the incumbent As well as being broadcast live, the AWI directors to retire were Wal Merriman, 2015 broadcast is available to be Brian van Rooyen and David Webster. Messrs viewed on demand (for 12 months Merriman and Webster chose to re-stand following the AGM) via the AWI for election. A nomination was received website at www.wool.com/2015AGM from Jock Laurie, a past President of the The webcasting initiative by AWI NSW Farmers’ Association and the National enabled those AWI shareholders that Farmers’ Federation. were unable to attend the AGM in The AWI Board Nomination Committee person to view the AGM proceedings. has assessed the skills of the candidates AWI shareholders also had the as required under the Statutory Funding opportunity to submit questions Agreement with the Federal Government. online to the AWI Chairman and CEO The Nomination Committee delivered its to be answered at the AGM. AWI CEO Stuart McCullough at the AWI 2015 AGM. 4 OFF FARM 2014/15 International Woolmark Prize womenswear winner Marcia Patmos and woolgrower Carina Doran at ‘Ahgunyah’, NSW. PHOTO: Dominic Loneragan WINNING WOOL COLLECTION LAUNCHED ON FARM 2015 International Woolmark Prize womenswear winner Marcia Patmos, of design label M.PATMOS, visited Australia in October to see for herself the source of Merino wool and launch her winning collection, now available at David Jones. his year’s International Woolmark Prize woolgrower, runs 12,000 Merino sheep “Merino wool is a perfect match for a travel- Twomenswear winner, US designer Marcia alongside her parents Angus and Sally focused wardrobe for so many reasons – this Patmos, travelled a long way from her New York McLean and Carina’s husband Andrew. premium fibre is super soft and lightweight, home to launch her award-winning Merino wrinkle free, temperature regulating, is UV wool collection at the place where the natural “Coming to ‘Ahgunyah’ to see the natural resistant, odour resistant and can be worn fibre is produced: on a woolgrowing property. beauty of where Australian Merino wool is for up to two weeks without washing.” produced and meeting Carina and her family Visiting Australia for the first time, Patmos has allowed me to explore the many faces of Patmos has used a mixture of 100 per cent joined female woolgrowers from the Goulburn wool,” said Patmos. “From being grown on superfine Merino wool of 15.5 micron and 100 region in NSW for the Australian exclusive grass, water and sunshine right through to per cent extrafine mercerised Merino wool launch of her nomadic-luxe wool collection at being turned into luxury apparel, I feel so of 19.5 micron for the range that includes woolgrower Carina Doran’s family property, lucky to be involved in this industry.