WoolProducers Australia Blog

By any reasonable standard, the case for mandatory pain relief for mulesing is already settled, both practically and ethically. The reality is that the overwhelming majority of Australian wool producers have already moved in this direction, and government policy should now catch up with practice. WoolProducers recognised this as far back as 2018, and while our organisation is cautious about adding regulatory burden to woolgrowers, it was determined that the benefits of mandat

I am Craig Mitchell, my wife Susan and I run merino sheep and angus cattle on a farm at Countegany on the high plains of Monaro, southeast NSW. Running 8 to 10,000 Merino sheep and around 150 angus cows. We have also been actively involved in the management of a family grazing business south of Bombala, also Southeast NSW, running a full complement of sheep and cattle enterprises. In addition to my farming work, I advocate for the farming industry through the NSW Farm Associa

As members of the Austrade Trade Diversification Network, we are continuing to pursue opportunities to diversify export markets for Australian wool. With the support of Austrade funding we recently had the opportunity to spend four intensive days in Vietnam meeting with government officials, textile manufacturers, industrial park developers, and supply‑chain innovators. The purpose was clear: to advance the next phase of WoolProducers Australia’s Trade Diversification Plan an

As Australia faces continued uncertainty around national fuel security, WoolProducers Australia is working with the National Farmers Federation (NFF) and the Federal Government to proactively ensure the needs of woolgrowers and the broader wool supply chain are clearly understood and prioritised should fuel supply become an a tangible issue. As the situation in the Middle East started to evolve and the ramifications regarding both fuel and fertiliser supply started to emerge,

WoolProducers Australia have been provided with a copy of the letter from Elders Limited advising clients of their decision from July 2027 to cease the handling and selling of wool in Western Australia, with these functions set to be conducted in Melbourne from that date. Elders have cited the nearly 40% reduction in the Western Australian wool clip in recent years as a determining factor in this decision. WoolProducers notes and welcomes Elders ongoing commitment to the wool

Being appointed as an Independent Director of WoolProducers in 2025, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to write about a topic that has been a key focus for me in recent years, the carbon balance of wool producing enterprises. I manage Mount Hesse, one of Australia’s oldest and largest Merino sheep farms, which was acquired by the Suedwolle Group in 2002. Mount Hesse is home to over 25.000 adult ewes, producing up to 135,000 kg of greasy wool annually, with an average micr

The announcement of a long awaited Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the European Union (A-EU FTA) has been met with optimism from government and some non-ag industry sectors. Trade deals matter as they send important signals about economic partnership and shared values, but the A-EU FTA contains little improved value for ag, particularly for Australia’s red meat sector. But for Australia’s wool industry, the real test of this agreement will not be found in tariffs o

Welcome to 2026, it is heartening to start the year on a positive note with regards to the wool market, but I would also like to acknowledge the adversities that some of our growers faced over the summer period including those impacted by flooding, fires and dry conditions. In this month’s report, I will be taking a guess at a number of factors that I believe will impact the Australian wool industry over the next 12-months. After a bruising couple of years for woolgrowers and

The long road back home, to a career in Agriculture and Agriculture Advocacy. As a young child growing up on the family mixed farm in the Ganmain/Coolamon region in the eastern Riverina, I believed my course was set. I had finished school and had completed a farm management and wool classing course. Now home to a future in farming. I could not have been more wrong. It wasn't a bad plan, Dad wanted me home, the farm was not large, but there was plenty of work. Dad had just bou

What a year it’s been. If you’re a woolgrower, you’ve probably felt every twist and turn of 2025—tight margins, tough decisions, and a market that seemed to test our patience at every step. Yet amid all the pressure the industry has leaned in, got honest about some of its toughest challenges, and began charting a smarter path forward. That’s the story of 2025, resilience in action, backed by evidence, collaboration, and a willingness to change when the world signals it’s time

Simon Riddle, Director for WoolProducers Australia There has been a lot of public media and comments made about this issue during the last 6 -months following the IWTO Congress in May, at which our biggest customer, China, expressed their strong preference for sourcing RWS accredited wool, revealing that South Africa is their preferred source, followed by New Zealand, with Australia coming in third. This is due mainly to both South Africa and New Zealand not mulesing and a hi

WoolProducers has congratulated the successful candidates, Dr Michelle Humphries, Mr Anthony Uren and Mr Chris Mirams in this year’s AWI Director Election, which was announced at today’s AWI AGM in Sydney. WoolProducers CEO Jo Hall said, “On behalf of WoolProducers I would like to congratulate the newly elected directors and look forward to working constructively with the AWI Board going forward.” “I would also like to acknowledge and thank the unsuccessful candidates Dr

Peak grower body WoolProducers Australia, announced the results of its biennial election for independent directors at its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 13 November. The successful candidates were Edward Brand, David Young and Simon Riddle. Edward Brand, David Young and Simon Riddle Office bearer positions for WoolProducers Australia were also determined at the AGM. Steve Harrison (President) and Simon Riddle (Vice President) were all re-elected unopposed. WoolProducers

As the 2025 Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Director election approaches, woolgrowers across the country are being urged to take part in shaping the future of their industry. There are three board positions up for election and five candidates vying for those seats and given the current situation that the industry is in, this is a critical moment for woolgrowers to have their say on the leadership and direction of AWI. Voting is voluntary, but there is too much at stake to le

Makaela Knapp, Director for WoolProducers Australia Since my last blog post in June 2024, writing about the phase-out of live sheep exports being the biggest challenge facing WA producers, a lot has changed. This issue brought agriculture and regional communities together like never before- not just in numbers but in the power of producers sharing their own stories. Hearing firsthand accounts from those directly affected gave weight to our advocacy in a way that statistics al

At WoolProducers Australia, we understand that the strength of our industry lies not only in the quality of our wool but in the resilience of the systems that support it. That’s why we were proud to officially launch the Wool Industry Post-farmgate Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Preparedness and Response RD&E Strategy 2025–2030 at the Wool Industries Australia Wool Week Forum in Melbourne on 11 September 2025. This Strategy, developed in collaboration with Animal Health Austr

Rowan Woods, Immediate Past President, National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia It would be naïve to suggest that the past year has been anything but one of the most trying periods for the wool industry—perhaps rivalled only by wartime. Wool production has fallen to levels not seen since World War I, and this downturn has reverberated across the entire supply chain, including our own National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia (NCWSBA) balance sheet, wi

WoolProducers Australia (WoolProducers) today (11 September 2025) announced the launch of the Wool Industry Post-farmgate Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Preparedness and Response RD&E Strategy 2025–2030 at the Wool Industries Australia Wool Week Forum in Melbourne. The development of the Strategy was sponsored and coordinated by WoolProducers Australia and Animal Health Australia. The Strategy sets out a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the wool supply chain’s resilience i

The Australian Council of Wool Exporters and Processors (ACWEP), the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia (NCWSBA), and WoolProducers Australia (WPA) today issued a joint statement re-emphasising the urgent need for a unified industry strategy on mulesing. This follows comments made by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Chairman Jock Laurie, which the organisations believe understate the significant and growing risks facing Australian wool in key international

WoolProducers Australia (WoolProducers) is calling for nominations for three independent director positions on its National Executive. The nation's peak body for woolgrowers is seeking passionate and experienced woolgrowers from across Australia who are keen to contribute to national and international policy development and advocacy. WoolProducers is uniquely structured to ensure direct grower representation. While the Executive is primarily comprised of delegates from state

Tim McShane, wool producer in Southern Tasmania, part of a family farming operation, Stockman Stud, mating over 30,000 ewes, cropping 2,000 ha under centre pivot irrigation and operating a Poll Merino Stud. In the past couple of years we have been crutching our pre-lambing ewes over a crutching trailer which has significantly reduced the drag for the crutchers. However, the downside of this has been the exposure to the elements experienced by all the staff (Tassie can have s

On August 12, 2025, agricultural policymakers and industry stakeholders convened in Brisbane for a roundtable hosted by Minister for Agriculture, Julie Collins and Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm. The event focused on a critical national priority: unlocking productivity in Australian agriculture. The discussions revealed a strong appetite for reform, with participants united in their belief that the food and fibre industries must be recognised as a key pillar of Australia

WoolProducers Australia is proud to announce Toby Haylock as this year’s Raising the Baa Youth Ambassador. WoolProducers CEO, Ms Jo Hall, said, “This role provides young people aged 18 to 35 with a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience in policy development and board operations. It’s designed to build understanding of how policy is shaped to serve the best interests of the wool industry.” Originally established under the Commonwealth Government’s Leadership in Agri

I recently attended the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Livestock Conference where I participated in a panel titled "Animal Welfare, Social Licence & Public Perception.” On the panel I spoke about the issue of mulesing and the need to take an industry-wide strategic approach to this issue. For far too long, the conversation around mulesing in the Australian wool industry has been stuck and it's about time we got serious in addressing this issue. It doesn't matter what your

My name is Peter Thomas, and I recently joined the board of WoolProducers Australia, representing Agforce Queensland. Together with my wife Kimble and children, we run a merino enterprise at ‘Beaconsfield’ near Ilfracombe in Central West Queensland. Our operation typically runs around 12,000 merinos, along with rangeland goats and opportunistic cattle when conditions allow. I’ve worked across several agricultural sectors—from jackarooing on merino studs in the NSW Riverina, t

Footrot is an inflammatory bacterial disease effecting the feet of sheep. More extreme (virulent) cases can result in detachment of the horn of the hoof, leading to lameness, ill thrift and secondary conditions, such as flystrike. Meat and Livestock Australia found that the economic cost of (benign and virulent) to the Australian sheep and wool industry is $83.4 million p.a. WoolProducers, General Manager, Adam Dawes said, “We regularly engage our members and have consistentl

At the recent 94th annual Congress of the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO), I had the opportunity to deliver a presentation on how Australia’s biosecurity systems help to protect the supply of wool, and how enhancements such as the Australian Wool Traceability Hub continually strengthen this system. With increasing and evolving global trace patterns, so is the risk of animal disease spread. Key diseases that directly impact sheep (and specifically wool trade) in

Jo Hall, Kelvin Le and Adam Dawes Earlier in April, WoolProducers Australia led group of Australian and New Zealand wool industry representatives on a tour of Vietnam. The delegation sought to learn about opportunities for Australian wool in Vietnam, with a focus on the potential for early-stage wool processing and strengthening ties between the Australian wool industry and the Vietnamese textile sector and comprised of representatives from WoolProducers Australia, Michell Wo

WoolProducers Australia today called on Australian political parties to commit to implementing a policy mirroring the progressive move by the New Zealand Government to prioritise the use of wool in government buildings. This call comes following the New Zealand Cabinet’s agreement to amend its Government Procurement Rules, effective July 1, 2025. Under the New Zealand regulations, government agencies subject to the Procurement Rules will be expected to utilise woollen fibres

Last week a delegation comprised of representatives from WoolProducers Australia, Michell Wool, Eqwools, Fox & Lillie Rural and WoolWorks NZ visited Vietnam to increase awareness of opportunities for wool in the Vietnamese textile sector, particularly those aligned with the roadmap for early-stage wool processing in Vietnam. The week started with a visit to Nam Dinh Silk Company, a company specialising in wool top dyeing, worsted spinning and the production of woven fabrics

WoolProducers were thrilled to be involved in an event held in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam on 11 April. The Australian Chamber of Commerce (AusCham) hosted the collaborative function showcasing the multifaceted opportunities for Australian wool within Vietnam's dynamic textile sector. Held at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel, this event was a joint effort between AusCham, WoolProducers Australia, Michell Wool, and Eqwools, and was an opportunity to highlight wool’s versatility to

WoolProducers, as the sole national voice representing the interests all of Australian woolgrowers - not just a section of producers - have been advocating in a number of forums that currently profitability is the critical issue facing our industry. We can no longer ignore the stark reality presented by the numbers. While the cropping sector has seen a commendable 1.6% productivity gain per annum over the last four decades, our sheep industry, encompassing both wool and meat,

In collaboration with the Peter Westblade Scholarship (PWS) and Monaro Farming Systems (MFS), WoolProducers Australia informed emerging indu

In collaboration with the Peter Westblade Scholarship (PWS) and Monaro Farming Systems (MFS), WoolProducers Australia informed emerging indu

Things have been moving at a fast pace since our last newsletter in early December. A lot has happened, yet, in many ways, we find ourselves facing the same persistent challenges. The WoolPoll result, a 1.5% levy, stands as a testament to the democratic process. While some may dissect the "what ifs," the reality is that the status quo prevails. Regardless, with the current price of wool and production volumes as they are, a marginal levy increase wouldn't have made much diffe

A wool focused workshop, instigated by WoolProducers Australia, was held on Friday, 21 February in Fremantle to bring home the reality of the disastrous government decision to ban the live export of sheep by sea and the impacts on the wool industry. The workshop, which was the final meeting held as part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) co-design consultations for assistance measures for transition, saw over 20 wool industry representatives f

An open letter to all Australian woolgrowers Fellow woolgrower, As you are well aware, woolgrowers in Australia are currently in the midst of a profitability crisis. Ongoing depressed wool prices and increasing production costs are squeezing us from both sides. It’s painful to see increasing occurrences of merino flock dispersals, as many producers choose to leave our industry in favour of “more profitable” enterprises. With the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) in the second ha

Woolgrowers, brokers, exporters and service providers from the national and Western Australian wool industry have come together to hold crisis talks on the future of our great industry following the devastating impacts of the live sheep export ban. The WA Minister for Agriculture the Hon Jackie Jarvis was invited to attend to hear firsthand what is currently happening to the wool industry, but a scheduling issue meant that neither her nor a representative from her office coul

Kelvin Le and Andrew Dennis visiting Hantex for Australian wool trade promotion, a wool spinning mill located in Tay Ninh Province, Northern Vietnam I am Kelvin Le, based in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, I am pleased to contribute this months blog for the WoolProducers Australia newsletter to outline some of the work that I have been undertaking, and to introduce you to the Vietnam textile sector and the opportunities that Vietnam presents for Australian wool. Following ATMAC pha

WoolPoll happens every three years and the wool industry are one of the very few industries that decides the amount of levy that we as growers chose to invest back into our industry for research, development and marketing through Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). WoolProducers are not making any levy recommendation this year and urge eligible levy payers to take the time to make an informed decision and vote accordingly. We as growers know the rates - 0, 1%, 1.5% and 2%.

WoolProducers Australia (WoolProducers) has responded strongly to a report titled “The Broken Promise” released by animal rights groups, including the Australian Alliance for Animals, Humane Society International, and Four Paws. The report focuses on the term "live lamb cutting," a sensationalised label intended to replace the established terminology of mulesing. WoolProducers CEO, Ms. Jo Hall, criticised the report, stating, “It’s an interesting approach from groups who are

WoolProducers Australia (WoolProducers) are encouraging all eligible wool levy payers to take the time to make their voice heard in this year’s WoolPoll. WoolProducers are not making a recommendation on any specific levy rate in this year's WoolPoll. WoolProducers President, Mr Steve Harrison said, “The WoolProducers Board considered the information in this year’s Voter Information Memorandum compiled by the WoolPoll Panel and determined that in light of the current mood in t

WoolProducers are urging people to attend the upcoming rally in Canberra in support of agriculture on 10 September, 2024, following alarming findings announced in the Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee report released in mid-August. The second forecast for shorn wool production for 2024-25, predicts a significant decline in Western Australia’s wool production to 44.7 million kilograms greasy, which marks a staggering 18.8 percent decrease from 2023-24. Ms Jo Hal

Thoughts as we get into ram selling season. It’s that time of year again, ram selling season! Time to check your ram power and work out your requirements for upcoming joinings. The selling season has started in most states, and whether you’re chasing merino, maternal or terminal sires, there are plenty to choose from. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out this year, with a combination of lower sheep and wool prices, the season in most of the country being tough,

I was extremely fortunate to be selected along with Jack Grundy from SA to complete in the 2024 Ovinpiades Mondiales World Young Shepherd Challenge in France. The competition was essentially a Sheep Olympics for young shepherds to compete internationally. WoolProducers Australia approached the Peter Westblade Scholarship and Hay Inc. in February this year seeking alumni and graduates to represent Australia at the 2024 Ovinpiades Mondiales. Jack and I were selected and had the

The release of the May 2024 Sheep Producers Intentions Survey (SPIS) points to an ongoing decline in woolgrowers’ confidence in the future of the industry. WoolProducers CEO, Ms Jo Hall said “the SPIS results are indicating that grower sentiment in the wool industry has declined 24 points, down 37 points from the same time last year.” “Further, there are projected declines in both the breeding ewe and wether flocks in the coming 12 months with the breeding ewe flock expected

My name is Brett Smith & I am a Director on the WoolProducers Board as part of my role representing QLD woolgrowers through AgForce. I am involved with my family property at St George while also working for Elders as a District Wool Manager based out of Tamworth, where I reside with partner Tori & daughter Polly. Through my involvement with AgForce I have also been involved with a steering committee for a project AgForce has undertaken around evaluating Natural Capital for la

A parliamentary committee decision on Friday to give the go-ahead to the Albanese Government’s proposed ban on the live export of sheep by sea has been vehemently rejected by Sheep Producers Australia and WoolProducers Australia who said the decision was rushed, unprofessional and thoughtless. Sheep Producers Australia CEO Bonnie Skinner said the Inquiry into Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024 was seeking to phase out an important supply cha

Last week a delegation from Vietnam, including members of the Nam Dinh province Peoples Committee and representatives of Cat Tuong Group visited Australia to promote investment opportunities. Cat Tuong Group is a real estate development company that has been tasked with development of the Aurora Industrial Park within am Dinh Province. The Aurora Industrial Park was assessed as a potential site for early-stage processing of Australian wool as part of the Agricultural Trade an

Hi, I’m Makaela Knapp, Western Australia’s (WA) Director for WoolProducers Australia and I have held this role for just over a year. What a year in agriculture and policy it has been! The biggest challenge for WA producers has been the announcement of the phase-out date for the live sheep trade, a critical component of our sheep industry. It has long been said that Australia was built on the sheep’s back and yet today agriculture often feels forgotten. We are increasingly h