Around the Camp: AWI Levy Payer or Shareholder / LambEx 2018 / World Merino Conference / Sheep EIDs

AWI Levy payer or Shareholder?
LambEx 2018
The Hardies see Uruguay at World Merino Conference and Tours
EIDs in sheep
Upcoming events
eBulletins

1. Levy Payer or Shareholder of AWI – What is the Difference?

Did you know that being a levy payer is different to being a shareholder of Australian Wool Innovation? Levy payers benefit from the investments made in research, development and marketing through the use of levy funds, but a levy payer is not entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting. To be entitled to a vote, you must be a shareholder of AWI.

Any levy payer who has paid at least $100 of levies in the past 3 years is eligible to apply to become a shareholder of AWI. Becoming a shareholder is free. If you would like to be able to vote at the next AWI AGM and are an eligible levy payer, you can apply by completing the shareholder application form. More details on being an AWI shareholder and to download the application form, visit the AWI Shareholder Information website.

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2. LambEx 2018

Preparations for LambEx 2018 are in full swing with the exhibition being held this year in Perth from the 5-7th August. LambEx “celebrates all that is great about Australia’s sheep and lamb industries” and has some excellent speakers on-board this year. An interesting guest will be James Rebanks from England, sheep farmer and author of “The Shepherd’s Life”, sharing his story of his rise to Twitter fame and the release of his bestseller, which both focus on his day to day life as a shepherd in the Lake district of England. James will be part of day 2, a day focusing on innovation and high-tech agriculture and will join a host of other speakers sharing their insights on technology and innovation in the sheep industry. LambEx will also showcase livestock, equipment and industry services in their exhibition space and for those interested in seeing more of Western Australian production systems, there will be post-conference tour options to a range of properties and facilities.

If you’re interested in attending LambEx, a discounted “early-bird” registration is being offered until June 4. To register and for more information, visit the LambEx2018 website.

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3. The Hardies see Uruguay at World Merino Conference and Tours

Last month, my husband John Hardie and I (Joy) took the opportunity to travel with a group of wool and sheep enthusiasts organised by the Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders to the World Merino Conference in Montevideo, Uruguay as well as the pre- and post- conference tours in Uruguay and Argentina. It was a wonderful experience that I am sure we will remember for many years to come.

We visited a woollen mill, a sheep and wool show, a research station and many sheep farms and every farm was using Australian Merino genetics in their flock. Some of the Australian stud owners/managers who supplied those genetics were on the trip with us and it must have been so rewarding to see the outcome. Uruguay and Argentina are most enthusiastic about wool production. For many, their goal is to reduce micron and increase fleece weight. They look to Australia for knowledge and guidance.

Uruguay was suffering from drought but their average rainfall is 1100-1200mm per year. This contrasted with south eastern Argentina where the average rainfall is only 100-200mm per year. However, it does snow during the winter in Argentina so it is difficult to compare the similarities with western Queensland’s dry conditions. The majority of sheep we saw had a range of approximately 18-22 micron. Uruguay has a population of 3.3million people so is a small landmass as is most of the farms but have a much heavier carrying capacity. We visited some huge farms in Argentina where they run large numbers of sheep and cattle. One was 175,000ha (432,000ac) with 80,000 sheep and 7000 head of cattle. This farm had a large shed which could hold over 3,600 bales of wool. Wool packs are made of clear plastic and the bales average 330kg in weight. They were contracting their wool directly to Italy.

There was a wide range of topics covered at the 2-day conference which also included several countries giving us an overview of what was happening in the Merino industry within their country. You couldn’t help but sense the enthusiasm for Merino sheep, firstly for wool as a fibre, as well as meat and in one country for dairy. Problems for sheep producers included pest control such as foxes and pumas as well as theft being a real problem in some countries. I didn’t hear of any outstanding lambing percentages in either country but you weren’t always provided with this information. Argentinean percentages ranged from approximately 60-75%. Uruguayan farms are able to grow their own supplements for feeding stock. Both countries use horses for all stock handling. Some have their own small flock of black sheep to provide a sheep skin thrown over their saddle for extra comfort.

The hospitality, warmth and friendliness of all the people we met in both countries was exceptional. At some farms they wanted to keep us there for as long as they could. Red wine, beer and soft drink for lunch was the standard drink at every farm as well as traditional food for lunch such as empanadas and plenty of meat. It was wonderful to meet people from around the world who all share a common interest.

The next conference in 4 years time (2022) will be held in Hungary with a pre-conference tour through Portugal. If you ever are in a position to go to a conference and tours, I would highly recommend taking the opportunity. It can be a tax deduction too!

For more information visit: http://www.merinouruguay2018.org/

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4. EIDs in sheep

Electronic identification devices (EIDs) are a tool for better selection and culling with both wool and prime lamb producing enterprises. Recently Leading Sheep ran a webinar with Phil Holmes (Holmes & Company) and Anthony Uren (‘Congi’, Woolbrook) – a producer already successfully using EIDs on a large scale. This webinar was recorded into seven short sections and is now available on the Leading Sheep website http://www.leadingsheep.com.au/category/recordedwebinars/

Leading Sheep are also organising a series of events throughout Queensland, tentative dates and locations are:

19 June Cunnamulla
21 June Goondiwindi
28 June St George
29 June Longreach

Once confirmed these EID events will be promoted throughout the Leading Sheep network and published on the Leading Sheep website: www.leadingsheep.com.au

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5. Upcoming events

2 June 12noon-3pm Rural Minds workshop, Eumamirrin. RSVP and enquiries to Debbie Smith on 0428 983 011 or debbiesmith@rrmh.com.au.

3 June Rural Minds workshop, Injune. RSVP and enquiries to Debbie Smith on 0428 983 011 or debbiesmith@rrmh.com.au.

7 June Maximising your herd workshop, Miles. For more information or to register click here.

8 June Maximising your herd workshop, ‘Samari Plains’ Wycombe. For more information or to register contact Thomas Foster, QMDC on thomasf@qmdc.org.au or 0427 056 441.

14 June 8.30-10.30am Succession planning – a guide to sustaining families and farms, Roma. For more information call 07 3236 3100 or to register click here.

14 June 3.30-5.30pm Succession planning – a guide to sustaining families and farms, Goondiwindi. For more information call 07 3236 3100 or to register click here.

15 June 10.30am-12.30pm Succession planning – a guide to sustaining families and farms, Dalby. For more information call 07 3236 3100 or to register click here.

15 June 5.30-8pm Rural Minds workshop, Eromanga. RSVP and enquiries to Tim Saal on 0400 104 332 or timsal@rrmh.com.au.

16 June 11.30am-3pm Rural Minds workshop, Adavale. RSVP and enquiries to Tim Saal on 0400 104 332 or timsal@rrmh.com.au.

17 June 11.30am-3pm Rural Minds workshop, Cooladdi. RSVP and enquiries to Tim Saal on 0400 104 332 or timsal@rrmh.com.au.

18 June 4.30-7.30pm Rural Minds workshop, Wyandra. RSVP and enquiries to Debbie Smith on 0428 983 011 or debbiesmith@rrmh.com.au.

19 June 4.30-7.30pm Rural Minds workshop, Eulo. RSVP and enquiries to Debbie Smith on 0428 983 011 or debbiesmith@rrmh.com.au.

19 June Electronic identification in sheep, Cunnamulla. For more information contact Jed Sommerfield on jed.sommerfield@daf.qld.gov.au or 0459 862 879.

19-20 June Accelerated Grazing BMP, Injune. For more information or to register click here.

21 June Electronic identification in sheep, Goondiwindi. For more information contact Jed Sommerfield on jed.sommerfield@daf.qld.gov.au or 0459 862 879.

21 June 4.30-7.30pm Rural Minds workshop, Thargomindah. RSVP and enquiries to Debbie Smith on 0428 983 011 or debbiesmith@rrmh.com.au.

21-22 June Accelerated Grazing BMP, Roma. For more information or to register click here.

22 June 4.30-7.30pm Rural Minds workshop, Noccundra. RSVP and enquiries to Debbie Smith on 0428 983 011 or debbiesmith@rrmh.com.au.

23 June 4.30-7.30pm Rural Minds workshop, Toompine. RSVP and enquiries to Debbie Smith on 0428 983 011 or debbiesmith@rrmh.com.au.

25 June Maximising your herd workshop, Butlers Creek. For more information or to register contact Lachlan Marshall, QMDC on lachlanm@qmdc.org.au or 0427 056 443.

27 June BestWool/BestLamb Conference, Bendigo VIC. For more information contact Cathy Mulligan on 03 5258 0229 or email cathy.mulligan@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

28 June Electronic identification in sheep, St George. For more information contact Jed Sommerfield on jed.sommerfield@daf.qld.gov.au or 0459 862 879.

29 June Electronic identification in sheep, Longreach. For more information contact Joy Hardie on jandjhardie@bigpond.com or 07 4658 7285.

4 July Herd fertility and EBV workshop, Dirranbandi. For more information contact Andrea McKenzie 0428 109 620 or register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DirranbandiEBV

14 July 1-4pm Rural Minds workshop, Surat. RSVP and enquiries to Debbie Smith on 0428 983 011 or debbiesmith@rrmh.com.au.

18 July 9am-3pm Paperless office workshop, Roma. Find out more or register by clicking here.

26 July Efficient Nutrition workshop, ‘Woodlands’ Mitchell. For more information contact Rhonda Toms-Morgan on rhondatoms@bigpond.com or 0407 678 574.

27 July Efficient Nutrition workshop, ‘Claravale’, Mitchell. For more information contact Rhonda Toms-Morgan on rhondatoms@bigpond.com or 0407 678 574.

1-7 August RCS Grazing for Profit, Roma. For more information or to register call 1800 356 004 or email info@rcsaustralia.com.au.

5-7 August LambEx, Perth WA. To find out more click here.

16 August Ewe Time Forum, Dirranbandi by MLA/AWI.

21 August Ewe Time Forum, Longreach by MLA/AWI.

22 August Ewe Time Forum, Tambo by MLA/AWI.

23 August Ewe Time Forum, Mitchell by MLA/AWI.

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6. eBulletins

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