Due to the diminishing supply of better wools, good style lots again attracted excellent buyer support, selling at levels
very similar to those achieved at the previous sale. However, the inferior / lower yielding wools, were discounted as buyers struggled to average them into their purchases. The result of these discounts saw overall reductions in the individual MPGs, which in turn pushed the AWEX NRI lower.

Due to seasonal conditions the amount of fleece wool yielding less than 60% continues to rise. A report compiled by AWEX highlights that in previous drought years the volume of low yielding wools peaked in mid-April. This being the case, history shows that the amount of low yielding wools will continue to rise over the next four weeks.

The crossbred market defied the trend of the merino sectors, with strong buyer activity pushing prices higher, with the better prepared lines enjoying the largest increases. Oddments on the other hand had another tough week, shedding 36 cents on average.

Source: AWEX

The wool market recorded substantial increases this week, following the news that Chinese Customs had suspended all greasy wool imports from South Africa, due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease earlier in the year. Melbourne sold in isolation on Tuesday and the limited offering came under intense pressure, with prices quickly increasing by 80-90 cents. When sales resumed in Sydney and Fremantle on Wednesday, similar gains were achieved, resulting in 20 & 21 microns hitting an all-time high. Thursday’s market saw a distinct softening, particularly later in the day, with the Southern & Western Regions giving up 16 & 41 cents respectively, while the Northern Region recorded little change to close the week at 2,074 +63 cents.

The crossbred sector continued to track sharply upward. Prices generally improved by 20-50 cents. These increases
have pushed the MPGs for 28 and 30 micron further into record territory.

There are currently 49,738 bales rostered for sale next week, an increase, of over 8,500 bales compared to previous estimates.

Source: AWEX

The 2019 Flock Ewe Competition Day of the Parkes Show Society attracted a great crowd with first time entrants Ian, Julie and Nick Westcott from Peak Hill taking out the top prize.

The annual Doug Bicket Memorial Ewe Competition held on 22nd February saw Geoff Cole claiming second spot and Roger Hood getting the Encouragement award. The day has shown significant growth over recent years. A strong field of enthusiastic merino producers competed for the title, reflecting the pride they take in their flocks.

Twelve months of hard work, intensive hand feeding and drought management strategies were showcased throughout the day. Spectators were treated to a good cross section of eight merino bloodlines run under a range of management systems and environments.

Industry representatives were on hand throughout the day to update attendees on the latest advancements, technologies, markets and management strategies

This weeks smaller selection of 41,757 bales attracted strong demand. As with recent sales it was those wools possessing favourable additional measurement results that attracted the greatest attention. With these types in short supply, they recorded the largest increases for the series and were a major factor in many of the individual Micron Price Guides (MPGs) posting positive movements.

A large selection of tender wool and wool with high cvh readings lacked support and these wools lost ground. Overall, the NRI added 10 cents, to close at 1,970 for the series.

After performing well over the previous two weeks, the large selection of crossbred wool had mixed results. Wool 26 micron and finer lacked buyer support and recorded losses of 30-40 cents, while 30 to 32 microns attracted good
support.

The oddment market also experienced losses this week, with price for locks, stains and crutchings generally 20-40
cents lower. Currently 40,629 bales are rostered for next weeks sale.

Source: AWEX

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is unearthing new opportunities for landowners in the Central West to reap benefits of the Inland Rail programme.

Landowners in the vicinity of the Narromine to Narrabri area are encouraged to register their interest in supplying borrow pit/quarry materials such as rock, gravel and soil. Inland Rail Project Director Duncan Mitchell said the material would be used to build the rail embankments during construction.

“Ideally, the location of borrow pits containing suitable general fill material would be within 25km of the Narromine to Narrabri study area. However, for competent rock which can be used to produce ballast rock, up to 50km from the study area could be considered. That means people in the Dubbo, Wee Waa, Trangie, Coonamble, Coonabarabran,
and Baradine areas should take a look at this opportunity.

ARTC will pay an extraction fee per tonne and will rehabilitate the borrow pits and cover with topsoil. There is also potential for land to become more usable, for example, if a hill is removed and land is flattened or if a hollow is left providing a new water catchment.”

Council leaders from Narromine and Narrabri are keen to see local landowners get involved. “We’ll need to import in excess of 3 million cubic metres of fill material, or the equivalent of about 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools,” Duncan said.

To register for the quarry material opportunity, visit the Inland Rail website https://inlandrail.artc.com.au/n2nborrow-pit-registration

On the back of last week’s large gains, this week’s market was a little mixed. Overall, best merino fleece lots remained
fully firm tending dearer, while good-average specification lots were harder to buy, which was also the case for the broader merino microns, which lost approximately 1%.

Merino skirtings gained 10-30 cents, with wools carrying less than 2% VM enjoying the largest gain. The carding market continued its upward trend (following on from the previous sale), leaving locks, stains and crutchings 10-25 cents dearer.

Strong demand resulted in 28 micron and finer crossbreds rising by 80-90 cents. Once again it was the better prepared lines that received the greatest support and as a result enjoyed the largest gain.

Next week is the penultimate sale before the annual three-week Christmas recess. Quantities are expected to increase, with 39,510 bales currently rostered Nationally.

Source:AWEX

More than $9 million is available under Round two of Smart Farms Small Grants. Grants of between $5,000 and $200,000 to assist farmers and groups to adapt to change, innovate and become more sustainable.

Part of the National Landcare Program’s $134 million Smart Farms Program. Landholders and community groups
can now apply for up to $200,000 under round 2 of Smart Farms Small Grants. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud encouraged Landcare groups, NRM bodies, Indigenous organisations and community groups to throw their hat in the ring. “The future of Aussie agriculture relies on sustainable farming and land management practices,” the Minister said.

“Our farmers are looking for new practices and tools to stay sustainable and profitable. These grants support new projects to improve Aussie soil, biodiversity and vegetation. They will also help support water security and promote climate-smart farming. Smart Farms Small Grants is a competitive grant funding opportunity, and supports projects to increase farming, forestry and fishing communities’ knowledge and capacity to adopt sustainable agricultural best
practice. Almost $5 million in funding was awarded to 77 projects under Round 1.

More than $9 million is available for Round 2. The National Landcare Program’s 2nd phase is investing more than $1 billion over six years to 2023, with $134 million for the Smart Farms Program.

More information is available online. Visit the Community Grants Hub to apply.

As the sale progressed buyer confidence eroded this week, pushing prices down continually. The finer microns were the hardest hit and by the end of the series 17.5 micron and finer were selling at levels 100-150 cents below those achieved the previous week. 19 micron and coarser did not sustain the same losses and were generally 50-75 cents easier.

The NRI lost a total of 107 cents for the week, closing at 1914 cents. The large price corrections were met with firm seller resistance, reflected by a passed in rate of 23.1% for the week, this was the highest passed in rate since February 2014, and came on top of the 6.9% of wool that was withdrawn prior to sale.

The skirtings followed a very similar path to the fleece. General losses of 100-150 cents were experienced, wool finer than 17.5 micron were most affected. The oddment sector had another week of large losses. Locks, stains and crutchings fell by 100-150 cents, pushing the three carding indicators down by an average of 138 cents.

Source:AWEX