Shearer shortage an opportunity for ambitious school leavers
School leavers looking for a lucrative career in the bush have the chance to join an iconic industry and help Australia recover from COVID. NSW Farmers Wool Committee Chair Helen Carrigan said a shortage of shearers meant there was good money to be made by young people who were willing to learn. Find out the details of courses between January and June 2022.
Meat shortages expose supply chain failings
The possibility of bare barbecues on Australia Day should be an alarm bell to all sides of politics, NSW Farmers says, with the major retailer supply chains continuing to struggle. NSW Farmers President James Jackson said ongoing failures to prevent anti-competitive behaviour had led us to a handful of companies controlling most of our meat supply, and called on the Federal Government to address the issue.
Next generation of Queensland sheep and wool producers tune in to popular webinar series
A first of its kind to be hosted by Leading Sheep, the 10-part ‘H Series’ webinar program spanned across 2021 covering topics from health and husbandry to herding foundations and how to buy and sell sheep. Commencing in April 2021, the now completed H Series recordings are all available online.
Indispensable workmates
“I just do it to pay the dogs back for what they have given me in a lifetime,” said Ian O’Connell, legendary dog trainer as he sat atop the sheep yard fence at John Lolicato’s Tullakool property Whymoul ... this seven State Championships trialling champion and judge, farmer and former shearer demonstrates how to work with his four-legged companions with nothing but love and admiration.
New Australian Lamb Campaign reunites Australia with the rest of the world
Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) highly anticipated Australian Lamb Summer Campaign is back in a new TV commercial that celebrates Australia reuniting with the rest of the world after years of isolation.
Landcare champions in our own backyard
The Strongs were early adopters in sustainable farming after the droughts of the early 80’s and 90’s, it was after this when the family started to notice a change in farming profitability ... By 1997 the Strongs had implemented the method of direct seeding ... In 2006 they started marketing ‘Arcadia Saltbush Lamb’ and built up a self-replacing Soft Rolling Skin (SRS) dual purpose merino flock with high fertility to match that of cross breeds.
Rifa sells final stake in Australian beef
Chinese-owned investor Rifa Salutary has completed the two-year divestment program of its Australian grazing assets, offloading the large-scale cattle breeding property Cooplacurripa Station on the eastern fall of the Great Dividing Range for $35 million bare.
Ay-oop! Now for something … Dalesish!
If you, like Kookaburra, have antecedents who hailed from the sheep and cattle country of the Yorkshire dales, you might well be interested in this fascinating website - Swaledale history. The website is put together by the appropriately named Will Swales.
Shear success with new wool group
The state’s peak farming body will directly tackle the shearer shortage with the formation of the NSW Wool Technical Advisory Group (WoolTAG). NSW Farmers Wool Committee Chair Helen Carrigan said fewer shearers were making their way to Australian sheds, and the NSW WoolTAG would address the challenge.
Shearers Association, AWU, trade blows over Ag Visa
Nichola Rupolo. The Shearers Contracting Association of Australia has labelled the Australian Workers Union’s claims about the new agriculture visa as “illogical” and “unfounded”. The AWU says the federal governments new visa to entice overseas workers into the agricultural sector will undercut wages and conditions for shearers and put young women out of a job ... Experienced shearer from RPC Shearing in Temora Rohan Cockfield has seen labour issues in the industry for over a decade.
FutureFeed: Asparagopsis update
As the only IP holder globally for Asparagopsis, Australian innovation start-up, FutureFeed, is the founding authority on the natural seaweed that helps fight climate change and produce more food with fewer resources. Built from strong scientific foundations based on proven results, FutureFeed exists to support the growing use of Asparagopsis as a natural ingredient for livestock to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Cutest sheep in the world on Australian shores
Valais Blacknose sheep, known to be the cutest sheep in the world, have been born for the first time in Australia following Valais Blacknose sheep, known to be the cutest sheep in the world, have been born for the first time in Australia following the successful importation of embryos and semen from the United Kingdom.
Event 5 Tasmanian Championships, 30 October – 2 November 2021
Event 5 Tasmanian Championships Rd 1 CopRice Ch Ch Series.
Viewpoint from “Euralie”, Yass – mulesing
In the past decade, we have been able to sell our wool from unmulesed sheep direct to Norway and the UK (Yorkshire), as our wool meets all their requirements. As with food, the ethical provenance of fibre is becoming an essential marketing tool. At a basic level - we give the customer what they want.
AWI investing more on fighting flystrike
Australian Wool Innovation will spend an extra $950,000 to accelerate research into flystrike genomics and new extension workshops on breeding for natural flystrike resistance ... "Evidence of increasing blowfly resistance to chemicals and the shortage in shearers are extra reasons why AWI will speed up this work:” AWI Chairman Jock Laurie.
Western district grazing property sets new record
Cropping and grazing property Rossbridge has set a record for the Lake Bolac area in Victoria’s western district, selling under the hammer for $13,500 per acre - setting a new record for the district.
Pasture assessment project underway on Kangaroo Island
A project is getting underway on Kangaroo Island to provide producers with the tools, skills, and management options to ensure ewe fertility and lamb survival is not compromised because of the bushfires impacting on pasture composition.
Rowe family exits
The Rowe family has brought to a close 70 years of ownership of prime Merino breeding property Wolhalla, selling the 5,056 hectare Flinders Ranges parcel for $2.78 million.
Sheep flock predicted to reach 70 million this year
The forecast of a wet spring in many key sheep producing regions in Australia will drive the national flock to over 70 million head in 2021, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s 2021 October sheep industry projections.
State Arena Dogpro Plus 2021
West Australian Working Sheep Dogs Association, Media Release, 1 October 2021
Riverina breeding enterprise changes hands
A producer from Riverina region in New South Wales has forked out $5.14 million for Kondoolka Station in the heart of the Gawler Ranges.
