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Rural Life

The latest comment and analysis about the big issues in ag.

Search the latest national livestock and clearing sales.

Find rural properties for sale across Australia.

Rissmerino co-principal Alan Rissman and Gordonvale manager Mick Rigby displaying the top priced ram, in front of the rest of the draft of five rams purchased for the Ilfracombe property. Pictures: Sally Gall

Merino wool growers from Hughenden to Blackall gave the inaugural Rissmerino ram sale at Longreach the tick of approval on Friday, snapping up 95 per cent of the 79 rams put up for competition by the Rissmann family.

Riss is the word at Longreach ram sale

SAFE HANDLING: Wayne Coffey, Combi Clamp, says there has been good interest around his stock handling invention.

A sheep handling invention from New Zealand is winning recognition from Aussie graziers.

Putting the clamp on sheep in the yards

WAIT AND SEE: A good run of seasons has seen the sheepmeat industry bunce back now all eyes will be on results from the first big lamb sales of the spring.

Confidence is continuing to build in Australia's sheepmeat industry on the back of a run of good seasons right across the country.

Flood of new season's lambs being readied for spring sales

Wal Merriman, Merryville Stud, Boorowa, NSW with his three prize-winning fleeces on display at the Ekka. Pictures: Sally Gall

Wool that would "make underpants for angels" has won well-known NSW breeder Wal Merriman his first ever Royal Queensland Show Merino wool championship.

NSW stud outclasses all in Ekka Merino wool comp

FMD WORRY: Like Australia, South Africa is heavily reliant on sales of its wool to China.

The South African wool ban by its major customer China because of foot and mouth disease fears will send a shiver through Australia as well.

South African wool growers fight China export ban

ATTENDEES: Simon Prior, Thomas Foods International, and Mel Simonds, Thornby, Sanderston, SA, were at the recent Mount Pleasant, SA, market.

The decade long price run-up hits its peak as battle for processing space numbs prices.

Has the decade long price run-up met its peak?

FMD CONCERNS: Thomas Elder Markets analyst Matt Dalgleish says the price reaction in livestock markets didn't reflect the actual assessed risk from foot and mouth disease.

FMD risk has been only slightly elevated by Bali outbreak, says leading biosecurity expert.

FMD risk has increased only slightly, says biosecurity expert

Shearer Josh Sneath with the prototype of the unit, showing how the sheep has been delivered directly to him, ready to start shearing. .

AWI's new prototype is eliminating catch and drag meaning better workplace safety and improved returns.

Shearing no longer a drag

Coolmunda Organic Olives' property Nunyara is now home to more than 200 Dorper sheep. Picture: Supplied

Coolmunda Organic Olives on the Southern Downs introduces sheep to further biodiversity goals at the farm

Olive growers embrace livestock once again

WATERED DOWN: Farmers with livestock are being "asked" not to visit Melbourne zoos after the organisation in charge said the new ban would not be mandated. Picture: Zoos Victoria.

Public zoos around Australia are moving to restrict entry, especially to farmers, because of foot and mouth disease fears.

Farmers 'asked' not to visit the zoo

Farmer makes dual mix of wool and lambs pay-off in NSW medium rainfall area.

Grazier Greg Woodlock aims to optimise land use with Merinos and prime lambs

BIG INVESTMENT: Elders says all the investments it has planned for new wool handling over the next year will cost $25 million. 

Elders wants the wool industry to take a ride on the backs of robots in the next year.

Elders announces world-first wool handling business

CHAMPIONS: Zoetis Prime Lamb Producer of the Year were awarded James and Lucie Peddie, Cluan, Tas.

Five industry leaders have been recognised in the 2022 Lambition Awards.

Victorian, Tasmanian and NSW producers named sheep and wool champions

FAMILY: Ben, Kim, Tim, Chris and Phil Hartwich, Mount Challicum Merino stud, Ararat, have won this year's Australian Fleece Competition.

The winning fleece scored 97.43 out of a possible 100 points.

Western Victorian Merino stud wins coveted fleece competition

ON TOP: WoolProducers Australia chief executive officer Jo Hall has been appointed as the chair of the International Wool Textiles Organisation's Grower Forum.

WoolProducers Australia chief executive officer Jo Hall appointed chair of the International Wool Textiles Organisation's Grower Forum.

WoolProducers CEO takes reins of international grower forum

DESTROYED: An estimated $45 million worth of wool was lost in a recent China processing facility. 

A murky ending to wools selling calendar as fire destroys an estimated $45 million worth of wool.

China processor fire douses wool market

PASTORAL HISTORY: Kongbool has been there to witness it all, the rise and fall of the squatters, a turbulent wool industry and the homestead still survives.

Wool mansion witnesses the rise and fall of the squatters and survives to tell the story

Home to the rich and famous built on the sheep's back

ROAD CONFUSION: We might have a problem in the per-urban town of Aintree if the council was to start changing street names, these are all in the same block.

Animal activists suggest street names honouring farm industries need a re-think.

Street name change might be a case of some woolly thinking

The successful shoe manufacturer says it sources its wool from happy and planet-friendly sheep. Picture: Allbirds.

Evidence produced in a US court cases centred on whether sheep used to produce wool were happy or not.

Sheep are all smiles after US court case

TRACEABILITY: Sheep Producers Australia CEO Bonnie Skinner said the rapid and reliable tracing of sheep and goats plays a significant part in emergency disease response. 

Calls for mandatory electronic identification tags for sheep and goats as the chance of unwanted diseases entering our country increases.

Biosecurity alerts reignites debate for mandatory EIDs in sheep

Justin Jones shearing a first-cross ewe lamb with the prototype handpiece developed by 4c Desigfn in association with AWI.

During the past 18 months the work done on a new shearing device might be close to fruition

Revealed: the shearing hand piece goes mobile

PAIN FREE: Tri-Solfen has reported a two to three week lead time to supply farmers.

Pain relief manufacturers struggle to keep it up with an increase in demand as more producers opt for on-farm welfare products.

Pain relief products in short supply

The RWS premium is generally between 100-150 cents per clean kilogram for the 25.5 to 32-micron categories

Responsible Wool Standard programs offer a 30 to 40 per cent premium for depressed crossbred wool prices.

Premiums add to lagging crossbred prices

Les McIlveen reflecting on his happy years working in woolsheds.

Big woolsheds, big mobs of sheep and big memories for shearer Les McIlveen who has a long family tradition in the game.

Shearing shed memories

MORE TO OFFER: Experts are predicting the re-surfacing of India into wool's main arena on the back of the country's decision to remove its tariff will provide some relief to a challenging market. 

Slashing of tariffs and an expected lift in processing in India is opening up big opportunities for Australian wool exports.

Threading closer ties with India

Rachael Pritchard looking over the Merino ewes entered in the 2022 Boorowa flock ewe competition. 

The 2021 scholar has had a very interesting introduction to the wool industry

Rachael reflects on Peter Westblade Scholarship

READY TO ROLL: Sheep aboard a live export vessel last year in route to the Middle East. WA farmers say they are ready for discussions around future of billion dollar live export sheep industry.

WA farmers ready for discussions around future of billion dollar live export sheep industry.

Sheep producers ready to discuss 'hugely important' live ex trade with incoming government

NOT THE CURE: Alone, the vaccine for FMD will not completely eradicate the disease. 

Australia will consider vaccines as part of the response strategy if FMD outbreak occurs.