Less is often more when we face uncertainty with ongoing seasonal patterns.
Our industry is incredibly resilient and adaptive, however we stare at the potential of another failed autumn with little to nil surplus sheep feed. Add the recently repulsive activist movements pressuring our right to farm animals in sustainable and responsible systems.
We must prepare ourselves mentally and physically for future challenges. Talk to your neighbours, local farming groups and rural service providers about how to strengthen your primary business to combat the future. Access government subsidies to support improvements to water and feed livestock facilities.
When we come out the other side, and the rain returns, buoyant times will follow. At present the challenge is to adapt, survive and plan for the worst as weather predictions remain negative.
It is fundamentally important to know your target wool markets so that you can prepare your wool clip in line with their expectations.
Are you aiming at the premium wool fibre markets? As a wool broker we are responsible to provide a platform to achieve the maximum value of your product.
Do you engage a qualified wool classer and do you understand the price discounts for wool that is not classed professionally? Do you collect and eliminate potential wool fibre contamination from your shearing sheds and paddocks?
Do you complete your National Wool Declaration (NWD) which discloses your mob demographics, crutching and mulesing status? Some premium wool buyers will discard your product if the NWD is not submitted correctly. Each aspect of your wool preparation from farm to market is intricate, but combined deliver premium market prices.
Wool buying markets continue to evolve in line with the consumers and are becoming more complex. To meet or exceed wool market expectations an ongoing and transparent relationship between wool grower, broker and buyer needs to be nurtured. Ask your wool service provider to explain this to assist your understanding and improve your profitability.
Each wool buying company operates a unique wool quality system, managed using strict quality parameters both subjective and objective. These are complex and vary from buyer to buyer, but serve the purpose of enhancing their ability to deliver a repeatable quality wool product to their clients.
Drought affected wool is challenging buyers. Our wool yields continue to deteriorate as dust penetrates the staple further. To reduce the impact of dust in your main line consult with your wool classer and broker regarding the removal of back, necks and points.
The objective is to increase yield and lower the vegetable matter in your main line, so it remains in the premium market. Rotate mobs, paddock to paddock, or adopt containment systems. These strategies will reduce impact of dust on wool quality and limit soil degradation due to wind erosion.