The Yarn

EP 291: MLP wrap up

The Merino Lifetime Productivity (MLP) project has been a decade-long, $13 million effort from a large team of people from across Australia. It has created a massive foundation to help build the future of the Merino breed. So with 2 million data...

EP290: Nanjing Wool Conference 2026

Stronger grower returns are essential to wool’s future, but securing that future takes the whole supply chain working together. In The Yarn, Scott Carmody shares insights from the Nanjing Wool Market Conference, exploring the connection between...

EP 289: A new road for Australian wool

Ask most consumers what a wool garment looks like and chances are they will picture a jumper, a coat or perhaps a finely tailored suit. Founder of Australian wool fashion brand, Homestead Road, Bridgitte Brooks wants them to think again. In this...

EP 288: Tom Hooke Nuffield: Regen Farming in Pastoral Areas

Tom Hooke from East Loddon Merino Stud in the Riverina has written a fascinating Nuffield report looking into the potential for using regenerative farming principles across the vast the Pastoral regions of Australia. His AWI-funded scholarship took...

EP 287: AWI Chairman fresh from China

George Millington has recently returned from China with grounds for sustained optimism for wool. Hear what the AWI Chairman has to say about supply, ongoing demand for wool and the latest developments in on farm research.

RB Sellars celebrates wool

"Built for work, worn for life" is the RB Sellars motto and a perfect fit for the Merino wool campaign with Woolmark. RB Sellars CEO and woolgrower Jim Gall speaks about his optimism for wool and the celebration of our natural fibre as part their...

Wool marketing 101

Opinions about how to market the world’s greatest natural fibre are not hard to find, however listening to the person actually in charge in very enlightening. Laura Armstrong the Head of Demand Creation at Australian Wool Innovation/Woolmark explains...

AWI’s new CEO Bryan Fry

The research, development and marketing body for Australian wool has a new Chief Executive Officer. Brian Fry has great experience in marketing premium Australian produce and is looking forward to driving demand for our premium natural fibre together...

XTM

An overnight success that has taken 27 years. XTM is growing the market for Merino wool through its clever alignments and innovative products. Hear Global Sales Manager Paul Manders discuss how COVID helped change the company and why he feels...

Testing flystrike research with commercial flocks

Woolgrower Michael Edmunds joins researchers from Deakin University to discuss an AWI-supported flystrike project taking research back into commercial paddocks. Together, they explore why some sheep are targeted by flies — and how on-farm research is...

Containment feeding

Containment feeding has significant advantages for feed efficiency and managing stock condition. Given the significant advantages, it is not relatively difficult nor costly to set up. However, there are many important considerations before setting up....

Breeding out sheep blowflies on KI

Know your enemy: protecting your flock against flystrike

George Millington: new AWI Chairman

Future leaders trip to China

With thanks to the National Foundation for Australia China Relations, AWI helped organise for a number of upcoming wool leaders to tour our most significant market. Hear from the Foundation’s CEO Gary Cowan and young woolgrowers Charlie Brumpton and...

IWTO President, Major wool processor and large woolgrower

In this extended episode we cover wool supply and demand and therefore price, longer term contracts, the work of the International Wool Textile Organisation and we also hear from a large fine woolgrower and his view of the future of the industry. 

An important time for woolgrowers

In recent weeks there has been a welcome lift in the wool market as a level of confidence has returned to sale rooms across the country. Together with this improved market has been discussion around certified integrity schemes that have evolved in the...

Planfarm

Sheep still have an important role to play in a cropping enterprise according to Paul Omodei from Planfarm.

Woolgrower returns from Blue Earth summit

Clare Canon has returned from the Blue Earth summit where she spoke of the disconnect between global sustainability frameworks and the realities of natural fibre production. But despite this she is making it work, with better recognition and better...

AWI Chairman at Bendigo