ISSUE 73 DECEMBER 2017 PROFIT FROM WOOL INNOVATION www.wool.com HOWZAT! GET YOUR WOOL IN THE BAGGY GREEN 10 38 56 MERINO LEAVES WILD DOG RETURNING TO THE MARINA EXCLUSION FENCING THE FAMILY FARM www.wool.com/btb 8 MERINO ON SUMMIT 34 MERINO LIFETIME OF EVEREST PRODUCTIVITY PROJECT EDITOR Richard Smith E [email protected] OFF ON CONTRIBUTING WRITER -FARM -FARM Lisa Griplas 4 Get your wool in the baggy green! 32 Merinos o©er flexible production fit E [email protected] 5 Gondoliers of Venice wearing wool 33 Tas case study: Merinos push profits up Australian Wool Innovation Limited A L6, 68 Harrington St, The Rocks, Growers at centre of Devold’s marketing Merino Lifetime Productivity update Sydney NSW 2000 6 34 GPO Box 4177, Sydney NSW 2001 Merino on Mount Everest Influencing the gender ratio of lambs P 02 8295 3100 8 36 E [email protected] W wool.com AWI Helpline 1800 070 099 9 Merino for snowboarding 37 Tax deductibility of shelterbelts SUBSCRIPTION 10 Merino in round-the-world yacht race 38 Wild dog exclusion fencing booklet Beyond the Bale is available free. To subscribe contact AWI 12 National Geographic features wool 40 Fox control programs P 02 8295 3100 E [email protected] 13 Yoga apparel in Japan 41 Rabbits numbers reduced by RHDV1 K5 Beyond the Bale is published by Australian Wool Innovation Ltd (AWI), a company 14 Merino weather resistant fabric 42 Worm egg counts funded by Australian woolgrowers and the Australian Government. AWI’s goal is to help 15 Merineo swaddling bags for newborns 44 AWI’s breech flystrike strategy increase the demand for wool by actively selling Australian wool and its attributes 16 Chinese brand showcases Aussie farm 45 Breech flystrike prevention publications through investments in marketing, innovation and R&D – from farm to fashion and interiors. 17 Inaugural Woolmark Studio in China 46 Blowfly gene research COPYRIGHT 18 Modernising traditional Chinese dress 47 Animal welfare and the NWD Material in Beyond the Bale is copyright. Reproduction of the material is encouraged. 19 Cool Wool in China 48 Buccalgesic registered for mulesing However prior permission must be obtained from the Editor. 20 Campaign for Wool in the UK 48 Lifetime Ewe Management DISCLAIMER 22 Luxury online retailer highlights wool 49 Technology concept award program To the extent permitted by law, Australian Wool Innovation Ltd excludes all liability 23 Best wool for the British winter 50 Developing smart tags for loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained in 24 Promoting wool at retail in Japan 51 The wireless farm this publication. The Woolmark symbol is a certification mark 25 Wool initiatives in Turkey 52 Nu¬eld scholar to focus on technology registered in many countries. © 2017 Australian Wool Innovation Ltd. All 26 High-end Dutch retailer promotes wool 53 Time to embrace precision agriculture rights reserved. 27 German brand’s new knitwear collection 54 Australian Rural Leadership Program ADVERTISING SALES Ben Baker, Pulse Hub Pty Ltd 28 ‘Coolest suit on the planet’ 56 Returning to the family farm P 0429 699 553 E [email protected] 29 Savile Row tailors Gieves & Hawkes 59 Case study: new shed facilities Advertising is subject to terms and conditions published on the ratecard, which is available 30 Wool4School hits the right note 60 Shear Easy training camps from Pulse Hub. 30 Promoting wool in schools 61 Shearing and handling competitions ISSN 1447-9680 31 Texprint: UK graduates using wool 62 EMI’s stellar run continues FRONT COVER 63 Price rises driven by demand The shearing team at Penshurst Victoria enjoy a AWI INVESTMENT STRATEGIES hit of cricket during the lunch break. Woolgrowers 64 An insider’s view on China are invited to donate a small sample of their wool Marketing Sheep Woolgrower to help create the next batch of Baggy Green Production Services New online portal set to launch in July caps - check out the details of AWI's new Flock 65 Processing Innovation Business to Baggy Green project on page 4. Readers’ photos Photo Credits & Education Extension Services 66 Main image: Tracey Kruger Bottom left image: Jesus Renedo/MAPFRE WOOL.COM 68 AWI grower networks in every state /Volvo Ocean Race To subscribe to the free monthly AWI e-newsletter Bottom right image: Robert Lang Photography for woolgrowers, and the weekly wool market review e-newsletter, visit www.wool.com/subscribe WOOLMARK.COM twitter.com/woolinnovation facebook.com/TheWoolmarkCompany youtube.com/AWIWoolProduction twitter.com/woolmark wool.com/podcast instagram.com/TheWoolmarkCompany youtube.com/TheWoolmarkCompany View Beyond the Bale online with image galleries BtB and video at http://beyondthebale.wool.com GD2685 UPFRONT 3 GETTING ON WITH BUSINESS We are continuing with initiatives to help increase the demand for wool through investments in marketing Stuart McCullough and R&D – from farm to fashion. Chief Executive Officer Australian Wool Innovation AWI ANNUAL RESULT OF DIRECTOR WILD DOG GENERAL MEETING ELECTIONS EXCLUSION FENCING AWI held its 2017 AGM on Friday 17 At the AGM, AWI shareholders re-elected Combatting wild dogs remains a key priority November in Sydney. At the AGM, I gave Colette Garnsey and James Morgan and for AWI. Our investment on behalf of a detailed presentation of the activities elected Don Macdonald to the AWI Board. woolgrowers has been calculated to produce of the company during 2016/17 and spoke The AWI Constitution stipulates at least a return of $8.60 for every dollar invested about the level of optimism around the a third of the Board, currently made up of over the past few years. A control option Australian wool industry not seen for many seven members, must retire their positions that has been generating much interest decades. International marketing campaigns every two years. In 2017, the incumbent AWI recently is wild dog exclusion fencing. To help continue to connect more retailers, brands directors to retire were Colette Garnsey, woolgrowers who are considering, planning, and consumers with Australian wool, aided James Morgan and Paul Cocking who all building or maintaining exclusion fencing, by the development of new and innovative chose to re-stand for election; nominations AWI has produced a 36-page practical guide fabrics. Meanwhile, on-farm research, were received from Don Macdonald and Will that provides an overview and photos of many types of exclusion fences that are being development and extension initiatives Wilson. Following the meeting, Wal Merriman used successfully by Australian woolgrowers such as the Merino Lifetime Productivity was re-elected as Chairman and he thanked Paul Cocking for his years of dedicated service to protect their sheep, and also control total project, wild dog control and Lifetime Ewe and contribution to the Board of AWI. grazing pressure. You can download a copy at Management help woolgrowers lift their www.wool.com/exclusionfencing or request a production and profitability. As part of this year's election of directors copy from the AWI Helpline on 1800 070 099. there were a number of woolgrowers who AWI shareholders who were unable to attend have voiced their concern at not receiving the AGM in person were able to view the AGM POSITIVE PRICES voting papers. It is important to note, that proceedings via webcast. This was the sixth although eligible wool levy payers can DURING 2017 time that AWI has webcast its AGM. As well as participate in WoolPoll every three years, As 2017 draws to a close, we can reflect on being broadcast live, a recording of the webcast levy payers must choose to become an AWI another very positive year for woolgrowers. of the 2017 AGM is available to be viewed on shareholder to be eligible to vote in director Due to improved demand, the EMI has been the AWI website at www.wool.com/2017agm elections. This written invitation is sent to well above 1,400 cents for the entire year. levy payers every year, although levy payers While the EMI has been relatively stable MORE WOOL IN can apply (at any time during the year) using – which is a positive in itself – the trend is SPORTSWEAR the form located on the AWI website at www. still upwards with the EMI reaching above 1,500 cents for most of the second half of the A key part of AWI’s marketing strategy is wool.com/shareholders. year and pushing above 1,600c on several to place a large focus on increasing Merino occasions. This consistently high EMI has fibre’s presence in the sports and outdoor WOOLQ: THE WOOL been very rewarding to watch during the market. We are increasingly collaborating EXCHANGE PORTAL year and, more importantly, very rewarding with leading manufacturers and brands in An example of innovation at AWI is WoolQ, financially for many woolgrowers. these sectors to promote the natural benefits formerly known as the Wool Exchange Portal. of wool as a performance fibre. There are The new online portal will launch in July 2018. We hope that 2018 continues on this several examples reported in this edition It is designed for woolgrowers, classers, brokers positive note. And with this in mind, of Beyond the Bale: from mountaineering and buyers seeking access to data, selling choices I wish you a very happy Christmas and and snowboarding to sailing and yoga and trading opportunities. In advance of July, prosperous New Year. – and even the iconic gondoliers of Venice. there will be various updates and opportunities While there are many sports and outdoor for woolgrowers and other wool industry brands now incorporating wool in their participants to be involved in trialing the portal. collections, I believe there is still further Register your interest at www.woolq.com to significant potential for growth in demand ensure you are kept up to date.