Wool

Year in reviewWool drop of 35pc rattles grower confidence

After riding high on the sheep’s back in recent years, WA woolgrowers have been left reeling after the 2019-20 wool market crashed to a five-year low at the final sale of the selling season.

Bob Garnant

Wool marketDual-purpose Merino shows value at final sale

The wool market continued its downward spiral from the impacts of COVID-19 to close the 2019-20 season with the final sale 52 held last week at Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.

Bob Garnant

Wool pricesWool price trough to linger, with a small upside

A senior market analyst has called the bottom of the wool market, but says prices might “bump along” at similar levels for the next six weeks before starting to pick up “cautiously” in August.

Cally Dupe

Buy upTechwool emerges as season’s biggest wool buyer

Techwool Trading was the biggest buyer of Australian wool in the 2019-20 season, securing 14.6 per cent of the 1.22 million bales sold.

Bob Garnant

Wool marketEMI tumbles to 1110¢ during the last sale of the season

The resilience of the wool trade was tested during the 2019-20 season which continues to be hard pressed by the COVID-19 epidemic which took effect late January.

Bob Garnant

behind the handpieceShear know-how in the lead

Looking after the future of the shearing industry takes someone with latitude and belief that the way forward is through effective communication and dialogue.

Bob Garnant

Behind the HandpieceChampion showman is driven by the shear joy of it all

WA’s most celebrated show shearer Damien Boyle has become a legend in upholding clean shearing standards, an industry trademark he has held for more than 25 years.

Bob Garnant

Wool marketEMI slides to close at 1,171¢ after two weeks on the up

After two consecutive weeks of rises the Australian market was unable to continue its upward trajectory this week, instead recording general losses.

BEHIND THE HANDPIECEShearer’s angles key to art

Master shearer and training sensation Kevin Gellatly quickly worked out the angles, contours and shapes of sheep to clip his way into a rewarding industry.

Bob Garnant

Wool marketRecord small national wool offering pushes market up

The smallest national offering of wool bales on record brought good news to sellers and buyers last week, as the Australian wool market rose for the second week in a row.

Cally Dupe

Wool marketWool’s Euro opportunity

COVID-19’s blistering impact on European consumers’ will to purchase has been likened to an “atomic bomb” amid a weakening demand for woollen garments.

Zach Relph

BEHIND THE HANDPIECEFrom rugby to shearing, life well lived

Well before becoming the 1997 Australian shearing champion, Kiwi Mike Henderson’s dream was to play for New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby union team.

Bob Garnant

BEHIND THEHANDPIECEDetermined Dave kept pushing the limits

A Southern Brook farming couple who raised seven children were proud their daughter’s six brothers all decided to take up the shearing handpiece.

Bob Garnant

New surveyWoolProducers survey COVID-19 impact

The nation’s peak woolgrower body has launched an online survey to find out what impact COVID-19 is having on woolgrowers, including how many are storing wool on farm or have had to put off staff.

BEHIND THE HANDPIECELike father, like son in family firm

Freelance shearing contractor Barry Ugle has earned a living on the boards of wool sheds for 34 years throughout WA’s Wheatbelt.

Bob Garnant

Wool woesWool market drops to its lowest level in five years

The Eastern Market Indicator fell 55¢ to close at 1170¢/kg clean yesterday to mark its lowest level since 2015.

Bob Garnant

‘Double-whammy’‘Double-whammy’ has hit Australia’s wool market

“This double-whammy is the most severe challenge that the wool industry has faced for many years.”

Zach Relph and Bob Garnant

New groupWoolgrowers map out 10-year plan

A national woolgrower group held an online meeting last Thursday to chart a 10-year strategic plan to engage future generations into the industry.

Bob Garnant

BEHIND THE HANDPIECEShear delight spurs romance for a Williams couple

It all began when Sarah Lannan, who grew up on her parent’s fat lamb and potato farm at Crookwell, in NSW, met her future West Australian husband, Mark Buscumb, at the 2007 Crookwell Show.

Bob Garnant

WoolPoll ReviewWoolPoll review launched to decide levy process in 2020

The Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment today launched its WoolPoll Review and encouraged woolgrowers to provide a response to its discussion paper.

Zach Relph and Bob Garnant

Behind the handpieceHands-on couple shear inspiration to WA industry

Today Countryman launches a three-month campaign, Behind the Handpiece, to recognise the shearers and contractors of WA. Why? Because they keep the industry going, even in uncertain times.

Bob Garnant

Wool bouncePositive rebound sees WA emerge as wool leader

WA paved a positive foundation to emerge as the leading market, with the Western Market Indicator closing 31¢ higher at 1384¢/kg following improved selling at Bibra Lake’s Western Wool Centre.

Zach Relph