ISSUE 81 DECEMBER 2019 PROFIT FROM WOOL INNOVATION www.wool.com OUT OF THIS WORLD PARTNERSHIP WITH SHAUN THE SHEEP © 2019 Aardman Animations Limited and Studiocanal S.A.S. All Rights Reserved. 06 56 64 PEARL IZUMI ELECTRONIC DROUGHT CYCLING APPAREL IDENTIFICATION RESOURCES 05 ELITE ATHLETES 40 NUMNUTS GETS THE SHOWCASE WOOL THUMBS UP OFF-FARM ON-FARM EDITOR Richard Smith E [email protected] 4 AWI 2019 Annual General Meeting 34 Post-farm biosecurity CONTRIBUTING WRITER 4 Review of Performance 36 Anaesthetics and analgesics Lisa Griplas E [email protected] 5 Elite athletes showcase wool 38 Pain relief FAQs Australian Wool Innovation Limited 6 PEARL iZUMI cycling apparel 40 Numnuts gets thumbs up in the West A L6, 68 Harrington St, The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000 7 Wool at the America’s Cup 41 Flystrike publications GPO Box 4177, Sydney NSW 2001 P 02 8295 3100 7 The North Face collection in Korea 42 Resistance to flystrike treatments E [email protected] W wool.com AWI Helpline 1800 070 099 8 Wool Performance Challenge 2019 45 Sheep sustainability framework SUBSCRIPTION 10 Shaun the Sheep and Woolmark 45 PMSG supply update Beyond the Bale is available free. To subscribe contact AWI 12 Hello Ewe wool knitwear 46 Merino Lifetime Productivity update P 02 8295 3100 E [email protected] 13 Leroy Mac Designs baby blankets 48 Merino Superior Sires 2019 Beyond the Bale is published by Australian Wool Innovation Ltd (AWI), a company 14 Albus Lumen travel collection 49 Pasture legume varieties to grow funded by Australian woolgrowers and the Australian Government. AWI’s goal is to help 15 Colovos visit Australia 50 LTEM in the pastoral zone increase the demand for wool by actively selling Australian wool and its attributes 16 Campaign for Wool: Wool Week UK 52 Baiting for organic producers through investments in marketing, innovation and R&D – from farm to fashion and interiors. 17 Life’s a beach with wool 53 Organic producer and wild dogs COPYRIGHT 18 Campaign for Wool in Japan 54 PAPP can now be used in CPEs Material in Beyond the Bale is copyright. 56 Electronic identification (EID) Reproduction of the material is encouraged. 18 PETA advert banned However prior permission must be obtained 19 China’s digital Wool Week 57 Control your destiny with EID from the Editor. Benetton united with wool 58 Pastoral zone rotational grazing DISCLAIMER 20 To the extent permitted by law, Australian Marina Rinaldi curvy collection 59 Diversification in the pastoral zone Wool Innovation Ltd excludes all liability 21 for loss or damage arising from the use of, Wool wins award for gondoliers 60 Merino wether performance or reliance on, the information contained in 21 this publication. Casual streetwear in Korea 61 AWI’s The Yarn podcast The Woolmark symbol is a certification mark 22 registered in many countries. Sustainability focus for Phillip Lim 62 ‘Arrow Park’ shed design Q&A © 2019 Australian Wool Innovation Ltd. All 22 rights reserved. 23 From Australia to Africa 64 Drought resources ADVERTISING SALES 24 Chasing clouds from AWAYTOMARS 65 Livestock safety during bushfires Steve Luxford, Pulse Hub Pty Ltd P 0429 699 553 25 Education Highlights 66 EMI slips but still historically high E [email protected] Advertising is subject to terms and conditions 26 Ban Xiaoxue travels back to the farm published on the ratecard, which is available 67 WoolQ & West Coast Eagles captain from Pulse Hub. 27 Woolgrowers’ visit to China 68 Wool market struggles in downturn ISSN 28 Bridging the Gap with wool 70 Readers’ photos 1447-9680 29 Survey reveals wool’s longevity FRONT COVER AWI’s marketing arm The Woolmark Company 30 Woolmark Learning Centre has partnered with the most popular sheep in the world, Shaun the Sheep, during the global 32 A woolly wedding AWI INVESTMENT STRATEGIES roll-out of his new movie ‘Farmageddon’, in a Sheep Production, series of initiatives to educate the public about Marketing Consultation Science & Technology the benefits of wool. See page 10 for further information. [email protected] Processing Innovation Traceability & Education Extension This magazine is printed on PEFC WOOL.COM (Programme for the Endorsement of WOOLMARK.COM Forest Certification) paper stock. To subscribe to the free monthly AWI e-newsletter for woolgrowers, and the weekly wool market review facebook.com/TheWoolmarkCompany e-newsletter, visit www.wool.com/subscribe instagram.com/TheWoolmarkCompany instagram/BeyondTheBale twitter.com/woolmark twitter.com/woolinnovation youtube.com/TheWoolmarkCompany youtube.com/AWIWoolProduction View Beyond the Bale online at wool.com/podcast BtB http://beyondthebale.wool.com GD3624 UPFRONT 3 GETTING ON WITH BUSINESS We are continuing with initiatives to help increase the Stuart McCullough demand for wool through investments in marketing and Chief Executive Officer R&D – from farm to fashion. Australian Wool Innovation AWI ANNUAL CONSULTATION ON 36 provides advice on the matter, including how analgesic and anaesthetic treatments GENERAL MEETING WOOL INDUSTRY work, the cost of products and some answers AWI held its 2019 AGM on Friday 22 LONG-TERM PLAN to frequently asked questions. You should November in Sydney, which included votes On 15 November, we held our first consult with your local veterinarian to on several matters and director elections Woolgrower Consultation Group (WCG) obtain specific advice for your flock. – see next page. At the AGM, I gave a meeting attended by representatives detailed presentation of the activities of the from 26 woolgrower groups, as well as the WOOLMARK company during 2018/19 and reported on Department of Agriculture. The purpose LEARNING CENTRE some planning for 2020. Woolgrowers who of the WCG meeting was to provide an Education is a key pillar of AWI’s strategy were unable to attend the AGM in person avenue for AWI to formally consult with to build the demand for Australian wool. In were able to view the AGM proceedings via broader woolgrower representative groups a major new initiative, we have launched webcast. As well as being broadcast live, a to ascertain woolgrower and industry the Woolmark Learning Centre – a web- recording of the webcast of the 2019 AGM is priorities. In particular, the WCG discussed based education platform that contains available to be viewed on the AWI website the framework for a wool industry 10- wool-related coursework and resources, at www.wool.com/agm. year strategy (which would help guide for students and professionals all along AWI’s three-year Strategic Plans). The the textile supply chain. It aims to educate, BECOME AN AWI development of a strategic long-term build expertise, inspire, and ultimately help SHAREHOLDER vision for the wool industry is one of the increase the use of Australian wool in global recommendations from the 2018 ROP and I textile and fashion markets. Read more As was demonstrated at this year’s AGM, am pleased to report that the WCG meeting about it on pages 30-31. AWI shareholders can shape the decision- was very positive and productive with making process of the company via their much progress made. AWI PODCAST FOR right to vote. If you are a wool levy payer WOOLGROWERS (who has paid at least $100 in wool levies DROUGHT RESOURCES AWI’s free podcast, The Yarn, has gone from in the past three years) and you are not As we move into summer, I continue to be strength to strength with now more than 100 already an AWI shareholder, I encourage deeply concerned about the effect that the episodes released and a growing audience of you to apply (which is free). Simply ongoing drought conditions are having on Australian woolgrowers listening in on their complete the shareholder application woolgrowers in many rural communities. AWI smartphone or computer. All episodes of The form (available at www.wool.com/join) and provides a range of drought planning and Yarn are available at www.wool.com/podcast. return it to the AWI share registry at Link management publications, webinar recordings I recommend that you take a listen. Market Services. and other resources for woolgrowers going into, enduring or recovering from drought. REVIEW OF On our website we also provide links to useful FUNDAMENTAL PERFORMANCE external resources and government agencies POSITIVES TRANSPARENCY that provide drought assistance. View a list As 2019 draws to a close, we can reflect on ‘a of available resources on the AWI website at year of two halves’ for wool prices. The EMI AWI is now 97% through implementing the www.wool.com/droughtresources. remained consistently at very healthy levels recommendations of the company’s 2018 for the first half, but unfortunately lost some independent Review of Performance (ROP). PAIN RELIEF WIDELY of its value in the latter half. The ongoing trade To aid transparency with woolgrowers, ADOPTED imbalance dispute between the USA and China industry and Government, AWI’s online and other international trade concerns have Review of Performance Implementation Globally, Australian Merino woolgrowers had a negative impact on confidence in the Portal (ROPIP) has been available for all to are leaders in the adoption of practical industry. However, the industry has weathered view since we launched it in September last and effective pain relief for husbandry uncertain economic conditions before, and I year. It continues to provide detailed and procedures. However, there are many strongly believe that the premium and up to date information about the progress variables and factors for woolgrowers to natural qualities of our fibre and the being made by AWI in implementing the consider when deciding which pain relief relationships we have built along the supply recommendations. See the next page and products are best for their farming system. chain during the past decade ensures a http://rop.wool.com for more details.