ISSUE 87 JUNE 2021 PROFIT FROM WOOL INNOVATION www.wool.com 24 46 53 SHEEP SUSTAINABILITY AWI SHEARING INSPIRING THE NEXT FRAMEWORK SHED DESIGN GENERATION 06 AMERICA’S CUP 50 AWI-FUNDED PROMOTION OF WOOL IN-SHED TRAINING EDITOR Richard Smith E [email protected] Australian Wool Innovation Limited OFF-FARM ON-FARM A L6, 68 Harrington St, The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 4177, Sydney NSW 2001 4 WoolPoll 2021 28 Retrofitting fences with electric offsets P 02 8295 3100 4 New AWI Grower App 30 Summer sowing legumes E [email protected] W wool.com AWI Helpline 1800 070 099 5 Review of Performance 32 Managing in a modern climate SUBSCRIPTION 5 Broader micron wools 34 Taking a closer look at colostrum Beyond the Bale is available free. To subscribe contact AWI 6 America's Cup promotion of wool 35 Lifetime Ewe Management P 02 8295 3100 E [email protected] 7 Bask etball star chooses wool 36 Monitoring Australia’s healthy flock Beyond the Bale is published by Australian 8 Woolmark Performance Challenge 38 Always follow label instructions Wool Innovation Ltd (AWI), a company funded by Australian woolgrowers and the 9 Feel Merino campaign is a winner 40 Give parasites the toss with ParaBoss Australian Government. AWI’s goal is to help increase the demand for wool by actively 10 Seamless wool kit for cyclists 42 Genetics update selling Australian wool and its attributes 44 MLP Add-On projects through investments in marketing, innovation 11 Move in Merino Challenge V2 on Strava and R&D – from farm to fashion and interiors. 12 Goddess Day promotion in China 46 AWI shearing shed design in WA 48 Shearing shed safety program in action COPYRIGHT 13 Zozotown ecommerce campaign in Japan Material in Beyond the Bale is copyright. 14 Tailored knitwear for people on the go 50 AWI-funded in-shed training Reproduction of the material is encouraged. However prior permission must be obtained 15 New machine washable wool processing 51 Shearing schools lead to employment from the Editor. 16 3D printing on wool 52 A shining start to a shearing career DISCLAIMER Next generation at SA Sheep Expo To the extent permitted by law, Australian 17 Blooming lovely Wool4School winner 53 Wool Innovation Ltd excludes all liability Wool processing education in China 53 2022 Nuffield Scholarships for loss or damage arising from the use of, 18 or reliance on, the information contained in 19 Naturally Inspiring online seminars 54 Merinos return to Yanco this publication. The Woolmark symbol is a certification mark 20 Aussie Wool Comfort bedding 55 Student Merino Wether Challenge registered in many countries. © 2021 Australian Wool Innovation Ltd. All 21 Woolstar’s 25-year anniversary 56 AWI Graduate Training Program rights reserved. 22 ŠKODA’s wool interiors 57 Use the National Wool Declaration ADVERTISING SALES 23 Shepherd Filters are a clean winner 58 Market intelligence report Steve Luxford, Pulse Hub Pty Ltd P 0429 699 553 24 Sheep Sustainability Framework 60 EMI recovery continues E [email protected] Advertising is subject to terms and conditions 26 Wool’s biodegradable benefits 61 Your clip insights with My WoolQ published on the ratecard, which is available 62 Readers’ photos from Pulse Hub. AWI INVESTMENT STRATEGIES ISSN Sheep Production, Processing Innovation Marketing Traceability 1447-9680 Science & Technology Consultation & Education Extension FRONT COVER CONNECTING WITH AWI AWI E-NEWSLETTERS: Three important generations busy at work in the To subscribe to the free monthly AWI e-newsletter yards at Lach River Merino Stud at Darbys Falls, wool.com east of Cowra in NSW. Pictured are young Henry for woolgrowers, and the weekly wool market review Chalker with his father Brad and grandfather e-newsletter, visit www.wool.com/subscribe Richard. The photo was shot by Brad’s wife [email protected] Elena who documents days on the farm on her Instagram account @misspip_rural. THE WOOLMARK COMPANY wool.com/podcast “Like the generation prior, interest for life on the woolmark.com land comes easily for our little ones. Our future farming, our farming future,” said Elena. twitter.com/woolinnovation twitter.com/woolmark Lach River Merino Stud last month hosted facebook.com/AustralianWoolInnovation an AWI-funded shearer and wool handling course (see image top right). Thanks go to the facebook.com/thewoolmarkcompany Chalkers and all involved. youtube.com/AWIWoolProduction youtube.com/thewoolmarkcompany Instagram.com/AustralianWool Instagram.com/thewoolmarkcompany View Beyond the Bale online at This magazine is printed on PEFC BtB (Programme for the Endorsement of http://beyondthebale.wool.com Forest Certification) paper stock. AWI STATE-BASED GROWER NETWORKS AWI-supported networks are present in each state. • Sheep Connect NSW • BESTWOOL/BESTLAMB (VIC) • Sheep Connect SA • The Sheep’s Back (WA) • Sheep Connect Tasmania • Leading Sheep (Qld) Find your grower network at www.wool.com/networks or call the AWI Helpline on 1800 070 099. GD4194 UPFRONT 3 GETTING ON WITH BUSINESS Stuart McCullough Chief Executive Officer Australian Wool Innovation Throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, AWI has continued to work relentlessly for woolgrowers to ensure the sustainability of our industry and profitability for your enterprises. consumption will also hopefully provide an Vaccines provide incentive for brands and retailers placing On-farm R&D and optimism orders during the second half of this year extension While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to for autumn/winter 2022/23 collections. It is important to note that while much impact many countries across the world, In the meantime, particular apparel attention during the past 18 months has with some countries such as India being segments continue to be more resilient been understandably on our retail markets, especially badly hit, there is evidence that than others, with the knitwear and AWI’s on-farm R&D and extension projects the roll out of vaccination programs can be outdoor/sports sectors performing well. are largely run in Australia and have very effective at suppressing the virus. The demand for suiting and formal attire is escaped the worst of the fallout from the The UK, which just four months still lagging but we hope that demand will pandemic. They continue to operate largely ago was suffering more than a thousand return once office workplaces open more as normal, although we closely monitor deaths each day plus severe lockdowns, fully and when consumers begin to indulge their progress and budgets. has implemented perhaps the most in social gatherings once again. We continue to invest in on-farm successful vaccination program, resulting R&D in the areas that producers have in dramatic falls in cases, hospital told us are important to them, including admissions and deaths. This has allowed Longer term outlook optimising sheep health and welfare, the UK Government to largely ease its I strongly believe that the premium and combatting wild dog and fox attacks, restrictions: the shops are open and the natural qualities of our fibre and the increasing the reproductive efficiency of normality of life is returning. The Bank of ewes, improving the genetic gain of the relationships we have built along the England is forecasting the UK economy Merino, funding of in-shed shearer and supply chain ensure a positive outlook for will experience its fastest growth in more wool handler training, and harnessing Australian wool, not only as the industry than 70 years in 2021. This is great news opportunities for on-farm automation. recovers from the economic effects of for Australian woolgrowers because, In addition, we deliver practical COVID-19, but in the longer term. as well the UK being the fifth largest training programs through our extension There are two macro trends that economy in the world, it is also a large wool networks in each state to increase play in wool’s favour. Firstly, the trend consuming market. producers’ adoption of best practice towards health and wellness, a trend AWI is therefore very closely on-farm production and management. We that has sharply increased in the past examining the UK market and considering also provide timely market intelligence 18 months. Consumers’ interest in how the release of marketing funds to take to woolgrowers, hold many face-to-face advantage of the expected growth in the clothing they wear, the bedding they industry events, and we run projects consumption. This is a similar strategy sleep under, the carpets they walk on and to encourage the next generation into we employed in China, whose economy the furnishings that surround them is the industry. recovered very fast after its early increasing – and the natural properties As AWI staff cross the country suppression of the virus. For example, AWI of wool, in contrast to synthetic fibres, to host or attend industry events, recently completed a successful spring/ have been shown to be beneficial for woolgrowers’ thirst for engagement with summer marketing campaign in China people’s wellbeing. AWI is very strong as they not only wish (see page 12) following on from the very The second macro trend is the shift to boost their flocks in the face of better effective autumn/winter campaign held towards products that are environmentally seasons and improving commodity prices there six months ago. friendly. In response to significant pressure but are also wanting to simply meet with After a weak start, vaccination from global consumers and governments, their fellow woolgrowers again. programs in the Europe Union are now brands throughout the fashion industry The sense of optimism around the progressing well, as they are in the US, are striving to improve the environmental wool industry is obvious and this will only and we anticipate that they will result in a and social impacts of their products.