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Your Future in Merinos

Join our experienced panellists, as they discuss their insights and experiences about the future of Merinos. This is a platform for producers to ask questions as well as visualise and further their understanding of the discussion points.

The journey to mules free
o Non-mules wool market
o Tools and management required
o Practical steps and learnings

All things shearing
o Tackling the shearer shortage
o Wool shed design options
o Future research in wool harvesting

Unpacking the economics of Merinos
o Merino enterprise vs alternatives
o Profit drivers and income streams
o Impact of current input costs on profit

A hands-on session in the yards
This will give everyone a practical insight into the transition to mules-free and arm you with tips to implement this change in your flock.

Registration is essential for either on-property or online attendance. 
 
On-property attendees  
Please arrive on-property by 9.00 am AEST for a 9:30 am AEST start. Morning tea and lunch will be provided.

The panel discussions will run over the morning. There will be an early lunch followed by a hands-on session in the yards and woolshed.

Online attendees 
If you can't attend on-property, you can join the conversation online at 9.30 am AEST. We will be live streaming and recording the panel discussions. Questions from the online audience will be answered in the Q&A section. 

Not able to attend?
Still register to receive the recording of the panel discussions. If you have any problems with registration, then please contact
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Event Information

Speakers

  • Joshua Lamb

    President of the Australian Council of Wool Exporters and Processors
    ACWEP represents the interests of wool buying firms. ACWEP is recognised by Government and other industry sectors as being the national representative voice for auction buying interests and early stage processors; and represents its members on various industry committees and at meetings with other industry sectors.

  • Rowan Woods

    President of the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia
    Rowan is the President of the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia. NCWSBA represents over 80% of the wool sold at auction each year representing brokers both big and small in every state.

  • Geoff Lindon

    AWI Program Manager Genetics and Animal Welfare Advocacy
    For 15 years Geoff has overseen a range of AWI genetics, flystrike and animal welfare RD&E projects. Prior to AWI, he Geoff worked for the Twynam Agricultural Group, NSW DPI, Egelabra and Bungaree Merino Studs.

  • Dr. Rick White

    Vet and Livestock Agronomist
    Rick is currently the technical services director for Elanco animal health. He is an experienced veterinarian with a background in private veterinary practice and ruminant production consultancy. His expertise is combining all aspects of nutrition, animal health and welfare into management programs to deliver best practice and return on investment.

  • John Sutherland

    Pooginook Stud Manager
    In 2007 John was appointed as the Pooginook Merino and Poll genetics team leader and later became Stud manager. His key milestones at the Stud include established the Poll Stud, integrated the use of ASBVs, setup the DNA genomics program and recently moved the Stud to mules free.

  • Stephen Feighan

    AWI Country Manager, Australia & New Zealand
    Stephen manages Woolgrower Services at AWI and is responsible for their industry development portfolio. This portfolio includes shearer and wool handler training and development as well as next generation initiatives such as Breeding Leadership, Young Farming Champions and School Wether Competitions.  Stephen also heads up AWI’s Global Risk and Recovery team, which analyses emerging global trends and their implications for Australian wool.

  • Jason Letchford

    CEO - Shearing Contractors Association of Australia (SCAA)
    Jason has been the CEO at SCAA since 2004. Although his family ran a shearing contracting business for more than 50 years, he spent the early years of his career in finance and accounting. The SCAA advocates for the industry on many matters with the current shortage of shearers being one of the more arguable the most testing challenge for this generation.

  • Simon Fritsch

    Principal and founder of Agripath
    Agripath provides business advice and insight to over 300 farm businesses. Agripath’s advice is underpinned through its commitment to collect and examine regional farm performance data. Simon has an agronomy background having worked in irrigation, grazing and farming industries. He is known for his practical mix of financial, science based and practical management knowledge of agriculture.

  • Matt Browning

    Borambil Station Manager
    Matt has a Bachelor of Agriculture from University of New England. He started as a 2IC at Borambil Station in 2008 and became the manager in 2011. The property is 18500ha comprising of 14000 merino ewes, 5500ha dedicated cropping, 1500ha fodder crop and 500ha irrigated cotton in rotation.

  • Andrew Michael

    MLA Board Member
    Andrew has been a Director on the MLA Board since 2017. He has a deep understanding of livestock technologies and an extensive association with universities and research groups throughout Australia for more than 30 years. Andrew is also a sheepmeat and wool producer who made the move to go mules free over 17 years ago.