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Articles by Terry Sim
First cross ewe national and state record prices on same day
Elders auctioneer Tom Dennis and the Naracoorte team sell the Coolawang ewes for $650 yesterday. FIRST cross ewes sold for a national record of $650 at Naracoorte yesterday afternoon, hot on the trail of the Edenhope AWN sale setting a state record of $625 for 1.5 year-olds in the morning.
AuctionsPlus subscription proposal sparks online options talk
AN AuctionsPlus proposal to charge participating livestock agents a subscription fee from early 2027 already has agencies talking about establishing alternative online marketing platform options. AuctionsPlus this week forecast it will charge agents selling in more than three sales a year up to $199/month billed monthly or $139/month billed annually from next year.
Against increasing the goat levy — John wants to hear from you
AUSTRALIAN goat industry leader John Falkenhagen wants to hear from producers aiming to vote against a proposed increase in levy producers pay to fund marketing and development. The Goat Industry Council of Australia president and fellow councillors wants to see a clear decision in favour of the proposal to more than double the current 37.7 cent per head levy to 90 cents.
DAFF offers no reasons for delayed WoolPoll arrangements
The AWI slogan for WoolPoll 2024. AUSTRALIA’S wool industry is in the dark on the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry’s inability to complete a WoolPoll review process in time for the next scheduled levy ballot in 2027. The regulations that enabled the wool levy poll were repealed on 1 January 2025 with the commencement of the modernised agricultural levies and charges legislative framework.
Innovation puts wool in walls, pillows and soil
LAMDA uses pure Welsh Mountain sheep wool. Image – Wull Technologies. A RIGID wool fibre panel made from Welsh Mountain sheep’s wool has won The Campaign for Wool’s Innovation In Wool award for 2026. LAMDA has been developed by British firm Wull Technologies using pure raw wool, without the use of plastic binders, synthetic carrier fibres, resins, starches, latex or any other natural or man-made binder material.
Wool test data highlights Australia’s supply problem
Fox & Lillie national wool brokerage manager Eamon Timms. A SIGNIFICANT drop in the number of wool bales tested over the past year has highlighted the industry’s ongoing supply issues, according to Fox & Lillie national wool brokerage manager Eamon Timms. In his latest market report, Mr Timms said AWTA test data to be released this week showed there has been a significant drop in wool tested in October 2026 compared to October 2025 in Australia.
Recruitment: Three top tips on managing a team more effectively
Innovation officer – Brisbane, Qld (Stockyard) Farm advisory specialist (DeLaval, via Rimfire Resources) Feedlot graduate – Beef City Feedlot (JBS) Farm manager, Kalbar SE Qld (Plasvacc) Livestock & finance administration officer (CPC) Working station manager – NSW (Spinifex Recruiting) Hay production operator – (Kilcoy Global Foods) Station manager – Liveringa Station, West Kimberley WA (Hancock Agriculture) Maintenance & engineering manager (Rimfire client) Sales agronomist – Darling Downs...
North-west sheep producers back dingo fence drone trial
A Drone-Hand drone on the job on a sheep property. Image – supplied. NORTH-WEST Victorian livestock producers are backing a new drone-based dingo exclusion fence monitoring trial as vital in preventing further attacks in the region. Agriculture Victoria last week announced it would fund a trial using innovative drone technology to help livestock farmers reduce livestock predation on their properties.
Aussie shearers and wool handlers score rare trans-Tasman hat trick
Australian blade shearer Daniel Rogers scored his second trans-Tasman win. AUSTRALIAN sheep shearers and wool handlers achieved a rare feat to win all three trans-Tasman tests – machine and blade shearing, and wool handling – against New Zealand teams at Warrnambool last Friday. The tests at the Australian National Shearing and Wool Handling Championships pitched the top athletes in the three sections against each other before a loud crowd at the Warrnambool Showgrounds.
Sheep and cattle funds put up $5.2m for truck wash upgrades
Victoria’s remaining truck wash network will get an upgrade. VICTORIA’S sheep and cattle compensation funds will bankroll a major $5.2 million upgrade of the state’s livestock truck wash network. Agriculture Victoria announced the funding as part of $13.78 million in grants through the state’s 2026 Livestock Biosecurity Funds Grant Program to strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity system and help protect livestock industries from pests and diseases.
Agriculture Victoria probes sheep welfare complaints at Bendigo
A cramped pen of sheep at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange. Source – Sheep Advocate Australia. SHEEP welfare complaints against the Bendigo Livestock Exchange are being investigated by Agriculture Victoria and saleyard owner, the City of Greater Bendigo. The complaints by Sheep Advocate Australia founder Gary Hall have sparked an email campaign call of support from the Animal Justice Party to shut down the saleyards.
DAFF kicks in $200,000 to keep National Wild Dog Action Plan going
DAFF deputy secretary Justine Saunders: wild dog funding to continue. LONG-AWAITED ongoing funding for the National Wild Dog Action Plan and its coordinator for at least another year was confirmed by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry in Senate Estimates yesterday. DAFF deputy secretary Justine Saunders told Senate Estimates that the national wild dog management coordinator role will continue until at least October 2027.
Victorian ewe flock decline behind lower 2025-26 saleyard numbers
VICTORIAN stock agents attribute a decline in sheep saleyard transactions in 2025-26 to the general flock decline and producers selling direct to abattoirs or via on-farm sales using online platforms.
Australian delegates reject US lamb industry damage claims
The US International Trade Commission global safeguard investigation hearing into lamb meat imports. AUSTRALIA’S representatives at an American global safeguard investigation hearing into lamb imports have argued that United States processors and companies had to use imports meet demand and be successful.
AWI wool levy revenue gains boost company reserves first
REVENUE improvement will provide an opportunity for Australian Wool Innovation to invest more in demand creation and on-farm research in 2026-27, according to AWI chief executive officer Bryan Fry. However, AWI has admitted that most of the revenue gains in 2025-26 were allocated to increasing the company’s reserves, from $77.26m to $92.84m as at 30 June 2026.
No room to negotiate on Australia-EU FTA says new ambassador
EU Ambassador Lawrence Meredith presents his credentials to Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn last week. Image – Facebook. THE European Union’s Ambassador to Australia Lawrence Meredith today pushed back on Coalition and farmer support for the EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement to be renegotiated.
VFF urges policy-based analysis of state election candidates
VFF president Ryan Milgate – has launched the VFF’s 2026 state election priorities and forum program. VICTORIA’S peak farmer body today unveiled its election issues priority platform with a call for rural voters to critically assess electoral candidate and party policies rather than exercise a protest vote. The Victorian Farmers Federation also called on every party and candidate to back Victorian farmers ahead of the next state election on 28 November this year.
Australian lamb silent on US package and Farrell’s ‘super’ idea
Australia’s Trade Minister DFon Farrell, second from left, with other trade ministers from around the world at the G20 summit. Source – Don Farrell, Facebook. AUSTRALIA’S sheep meat processing sector and producer leadership was today silent on the prospect of American and Australian lamb producers co-operating on a support package to avert import restrictions or higher tariffs.
Macwool Maulers beat slow drinking exporters in Nanjing
Don Macdonald kneels before his Macwool Maulers. AN AUSTRALIAN team of young growers has won the prestigious beer-drinking competition at the Nanjing Wool Market Conference for the first time in 10 years amid accusations of foul play and too much beer spilled.
Growers offer frank feedback at Nanjing Wool Market Conference
CHINA’S wool processing trade was told farm production costs and other viable land use options meant any Australian fibre production increase would be incremental at current prices, at the Nanjing Wool Market Conference this month. Western New South Wales grower, Dermot Murray at ‘Newfoundland’ near Louth, told the conference that Australian Merino growers needed a wool price of 2200c/kg.
NFF backpacker visa support offered to SFO farmers only
Many sectors including horticulture and tourism are feeling the pinch from the Federal Goverment’s slowed processing of offshore visa applications. Image: NSW Tourism Association FARMERS with urgent backpacker labour needs have to join state farming organisations to access a Working Holiday Maker fast-track visa initiative by the National Farmers Federation and the Albanese Government.
NFF backpacker visa support offered to SFO farmers only
FARMERS with urgent backpacker labour needs have to join state farming organisations to access a Working Holiday Maker fast-track visa initiative by the National Farmers Federation and the Albanese Government. Although welcomed by SFO member farmers desperate to access backpackers for harvest work, many farmers are not members of the various state farming organisations and some did not know about the initiative until contacted by media.
Farmers ‘held to ransom’ on labour as Settle blames One Nation
Victorian Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle – will always fight for regional Victorians and industry. VICTORIA’S Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle has deferred to the Albanese Government on its proposed cutbacks to Working Holiday Maker visas, while blaming the current “anti-immigration” push on One Nation and the federal Coalition.
Egypt accepts first sheep semen and embryos from Australia
Hamilton Genetics’ Dr Brian Sharrock working with post grad vets in Thailand. VICTORIAN operation Hamilton Genetics has concluded the first successful export of sheep semen and embryos to Egypt. Egypt has previously imported live sheep from other countries, including Australia, and in 2014, new health certification standards were agreed to by the two countries.
NFF rejects Albanese’s ‘right balance’ claim on visa changes
AUSTRALIA’S peak farmer body has rejected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s assertion that the Federal Government had struck the right balance between limiting immigration and the economic impact of visa restrictions. At the National Press Club last week, Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship Tony Burke said agriculture and fisheries would be added to the priority list under Ministerial Direction 119, ensuring growers had access to the workers needed for harvest.
Immigration Minister Burke’s visa changes fall short for agriculture
Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Tony Burke at his National Press Club address today FARMERS, meat processors and the Coalition remain unconvinced changes to Australia’s visa and immigration system announced today have met the immediate and ongoing labour needs of agriculture.
Nicki Guttler achieves milestone win for female sheep shearers
Nicki Guttler shearing her way to the milestone Forbes open win. Image – Isabella Thompson. NEW South Wales shearer Nicki Guttler has overcome injury and tragedy to become Australia’s first woman to win an open shearing event, with an inspirational victory at the Forbes Show last weekend. And she backed up the milestone machine shearing open win, by also winning the blade shearing event at Forbes.
Is it too late to collaborate with the US producers on lamb promotion?
Episode 3 analyst Matt Dalgleish at the Naracoorte Lambpro open day. THE latest American lamb industry effort to limit imports from Australia and New Zealand has sparked industry discussion on whether marketing collaboration efforts should be renewed. At a Lambpro open day at Naracoorte yesterday, Episode 3 analyst Matt Dalgleish said the solution to the current American sheep meat import situation lay in collaboratively growing US domestic demand.
Sheep Producers Australia ducks as Future Flock reports ire grows
GOVERNMENT and state farming organisation scrutiny of Sheep Producers Australia’s Future Flock Strategy process is increasing after the release of two flawed taxpayer-funded reports last week. The Future Flock ‘A Ten-Year View’ from Trudeau & Associates and a separate economic analysis report from Rennie Advisory funded with an exclusive $800,000 federal government grant to SPA have come under widespread critical analysis.
Sydney-born Jack finds a passion for wool in the bush
NCWSBA president Alistair Calvert, left, with the NCWSBA Young Wool Broker of the Year Jack Finch. NEW South Wales wool broker Jack Finch was crowned the 2026 National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia Young Wool Broker of the Year last week. The wool and livestock representative with Schute Bell Badgery Lumby’s at Goulburn won out against two other finalists, Kate Methven from Elders and Tom Simmonds from AWN.
Charlie wants to see more young talent in the wool industry
Inaugural Peter Morgan Award winner Charlie Kidman, left, PTWM director Geoffrey Beath and Peter Morgan. NUTRIEN wool rehandle manager Charlie Kidman has been awarded the inaugural Peter Morgan Award by the Private Treaty Merchants of Australia. At the Wool Industries Australia annual dinner in Melbourne last week, Charlie said he was honoured to win the award. “I’m looking forward to going to the Nanjing conference in two weeks, it should be a great experience.
No Future Flock strategy yet as latest reports fail critical analysis
SHEEP Producers Australia’s latest Future Flock reports have sparked critical feedback on the number of factual and sourcing errors in the documents prepared with $800,000 in Federal Government funding. The Future Flock – A Ten Year View’ (2027-2036) report and an accompanying economic analysis report were quietly released Monday afternoon via a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website statement and emails to consultation participants.
Recruitment: Workforce plan outlines livestock industry skills
Latest listings on AgJobs Central: Feedlot administration/livestock hand (Waluca Farming) Stock agent – Emerald/Clermont, Qld (Elders) Retail sales representative – Emerald, Qld (Elders) Manager, commercialisation (GRDC) Product support representative (Rimfire client) Organic technical specialist (Australian organic) Irrigation manager, NSW (Agricultural Appointments client) Regional sales manager, Riordan Fuels (Rimfire client) Stewardship field officer, Agsafe (Rimfire client) Station...
Shepparton college team scores Vic wether challenge hat-trick
GREATER Shepparton Secondary College remains undefeated in the Victorian Schools Merino Wether Challenge. The college has won the challenge for the third consecutive time at the third annual event at Clunes in Victoria. The Shepparton team won the Fox & Lillie grand champion award with a carcase value of $435.67 for six wethers, including an 89kg wether with 6.5mm of fat and 46mm eye muscle depth as a lamb/hogget.
Gundagai Lamb gains show value-based marketing is working
Gundagai Lamb CEO Will Barton, left, with Oxton Park’s Paul O’Connor, Brad Cavanagh, Lachie Barrett and Alex Wyeth. Image – Supplied. VALUE-BASED marketing with full carcase feedback to producers is improving the marketability of lamb for Gundagai Lamb suppliers and clients, according to GL chief executive officer Will Barton.
Farrell parries Nationals call for EU free trade agreement changes
COALITION opposition to the Australia-European Free Trade Agreement has prompted Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell to appeal for business support for its ratification by Federal Parliament. Nationals leader Matt Canavan today said he had suggested “reasonable changes” to the agreement before agreement’s ratification. Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell.
Warning to landholders on foxes and H5 bird flu
A fox on the move. Photo – Lisette Mill. FOX shooters and landholders have been reminded of the potential role pest species can play in the spread of H5 bird flu by a south-west Victorian pest controller and conservationist. Biodiversity Inno9vation AU principal Lisette Mill’s warnings come as Australia confirms its second case of H5 bird flu in seals after reports of mass deaths in sea birds along the coastline.
BOM weekly rainfall update to 24 August 2026 + outlook map
A SERIES of cold fronts across the south and troughs through inland Australia, brought humid air leading to isolated thunderstorms, widespread rain, and showers across the country toward the south-east. Weekly rainfall totals of 15-100mm were recorded across parts of southern Western Australia and much of the south-east.
Worker visa changes made without ag sector consultation
AUSTRALIAN meat processors and the National Farmers Federation are seeking urgent clarification of changes in visa processing priorities that could affect the ongoing availability of overseas skilled workers. The red meat processing sector relies on overseas skilled workers, but under changes that came into effect on 25 July – Ministerial Direction 119 – the highest priority is now given to nomination and visa applications that support Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests.
No political commitments to fund a livestock gene bank
Nationals deputy leader and agriculture spokesman Darren Chester – no livestock gene bank funding commitment. NEITHER the Albanese Government nor the federal Liberal-Nationals Coalition has committed to funding a livestock gene bank in Australia, despite wide industry support for the concept. Before the 2022 federal election, the Coalition pledged $8.2 million over four years to create an agricultural – livestock and pasture — gene bank, should it be re-elected.
Unreleased CSIRO report proposed a hybrid livestock gene bank model
A CSIRO report completed four years ago recommended Australia establish a livestock gene bank as insurance against the impact of exotic disease incursions or natural disasters. Since then, Australia’s livestock industries have suffered significant losses from floods and bushfires, and the risk of exotic disease incursion has been heightened by the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease across neighbouring northern countries and the recent arrival of H5N1 bird flu.
Veterinarians back an industry mulesing phaseout or regulation
Mulesed Merino lambs with their mothers, Image – The Livestock Collective. AUSTRALIA’S peak veterinarian body has advocated phasing out mulesing as soon as a sustainable transition to flystrike-resistant sheep can be achieved, recommending the sheep industry commit to a deadline to end the breech modification practice or that this be regulated by government.
Australia marshalls US backers in Protect Lamb Supply initiative
MAJOR North American veal and lamb packer Catelli Brothers has confirmed its support for Australia’s Protect Lamb Supply initiative to inform the United States International Trade Commission’s global safeguard investigation into imported lamb.
Unreleased CSIRO report proposed a hybrid livestock gene bank model
A CSIRO report completed four years ago recommended Australia establish a livestock gene bank as insurance against the impact of exotic disease incursions or natural disasters. Since then, Australia’s livestock industries have suffered significant losses from floods and bushfires, and the risk of exotic disease incursion has been heightened by the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease across neighbouring northern countries and the recent arrival of H5N1 bird flu.
Look Over the Farm Gate program wins further $600,000 in funding
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Michaela Settle at Sheepvention. A FURTHER $600,000 has been granted to the Look Over the Farm Gate farmer and community support program by the Victorian Government. Minister for Agriculture Michaela Settle announced the funding during the recent Hamilton Sheepvention Rural Expo at the Women In Ag luncheon.
Top hay growers to talk fodder in virtual farm walk
South Australian hay grower Robyn Faulkner with her family. HAY growers from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia will take viewers into their paddocks during a live virtual farm walk on Wednesday, 12 August. The free Top of the Stack webinar, starting at 11.30am, will feature live interviews from three working farms as part of the announcement of the 2026 Feed Central National Hay Quality Awards.
Sheepvention panel explores what successful ag businesses are doing
Banjo player CBA panel moderator Matt Dalgleish took the speakers though a thumb up thumbs down exercise to lighten the mood at the Sheepvention event, including their opinions of the instrument. FROM contracting beef prices before the bulls go in to providing processing feedback to lamb producers and applying on-farm innovation, a Hamilton Sheepvention panel last week has given some key insights for successful cattle and sheep production and marketing.
CBA economist outlines interest rate forecast at Sheepvention
CBA director of fixed income and interest rate strategy, Dr Hamid Yahyaei. THE importance of interest rate changes and market directions were highlighted in the Commonwealth Bank’s agribusiness panel discussion at the Hamilton’s Sheepvention Rural Expo this week.
Carcase, fleece and fertility wins in Corriedale feature show
Tuerong Valley’s supreme Corriedale exhibit with Kate Methven and Damien Goodman. CARCASE quality and fertility reigned supreme in the Corriedale feature show at Hamilton’s Sheepvention Rural Expo yesterday. Judge Richard Archer awarded the supreme breed sheep to Tuerong Valley Corriedale’s 14 month-old ram hogget, ahead of Sweetfield Corriedale’s champion ewe and her triplets at foot.
Western Australian wool growers flock to meet Chinese processors
WA Merinos on crop stubble. Photo: DPIRD BOOKED out events organized by Western Australia’s Wool Collective of brokers and exporters next month indicated strong interest in maintaining a sustainable wool industry in the state, according to WA wool exporter and collective spokesman Peter Morris.
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