ST Helens ultra fine wool producer David Rowbottom believes wool producers should support Australian Wool Innovation’s (AWI) call for the wool levy to stay at two per cent for the next three years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Rowbottom said wool needed to continue its level of research and promotion for the industry to progress and urged other producers to back AWI’s recommendation in the WoolPoll presently being sent to wool growers.
A WoolPoll workshop will be held in Casterton on the morning of Friday, October 2, as part of a series being held throughout the nation to give producers an opportunity to speak to AWI and WoolPoll panel members.
Mr Rowbottom, from north of Port Fairy, said while it was difficult to quantify the return that wool producers received from the levy because some wool microns were getting much better prices than others, he believed they were in general getting value for money.
Cross bred, strong and fine wool were fetching good prices but super and ultra fine were struggling, he said.
AWI chief executive officer Stuart Mr McCullough said it recommended the wool levy remain at two per cent for the next three years to ensure outcomes delivered over the past three years were continued.
Mr McCullough said the federal government’s co-contribution was maximised for matching research and development (R&D) at the two per cent levy rate.
The AWI said every dollar it had invested over the past three years had delivered a $2.90 return to wool growers. The benefits of its investment in R&D and marketing were detailed in a recent Review of Performance (ROP) conducted by Deloitte Private, AWI said.
The ROP showed AWI created value for wool growers through improved productivity, increased market demand, growing wool prices, and cost savings.
AWI-supported programs that helped growers improve profitability included Lifetime Ewe Management that helped the average participant improve weaning rates by 11 per cent and reduce ewe mortality by 33 per cent.
Another AWI-supported programs that delivered benefits included shearer and wool handler training that boosted productivity and shearing quality.
It had also developed new supply chains in emerging countries and more than 20 manufacturers in China, Turkey, Italy and India had improved their technical skills, AWI said.
WoolProducers Australia has expressed disappointment that an option for a 1.5 per cent levy was not included in the poll.
Voting by eligible levy payers in WoolPoll will open on Monday, September 14 and close on Friday, October 30.
