PETA video prompts two-year shearing ban, six workers charged in Victoria

Victorian authorities have successfully prosecuted the first of six shearers they allege were depicted abusing sheep in a video released by animal welfare activists in 2014.

Aussie Wool is lost at the Quay says AWGA chairman Robert McBride

For anyone who has read the Australian Wool Innovation annual report, one feels the board has clearly lost direction and control of the wool levy. It's hard to fathom how they are helping wool demand or on farm profitability in any way, the Merino industry has never been in a weaker position in its long history.

WoolProducers Australia committed to FMD Preparedness

The peak representative body for the Australian wool industry, WoolProducers Australia (WPA) has strengthened its commitment to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) preparedness on behalf of the Australian wool industry.

WoolProducers Australia stands by a 15% backpacker tax.

WoolProducers Australia stands by its support for a 15% backpacker tax. Australia's wool growers believe that the 15% rate is fair, internationally competitive and recognises the unique nature of seasonal work. We don't believe that backpackers should pay less tax than those on the Seasonal Worker Program.

Welfare standards losing business

A perception by brands the Australian wool industry's animal welfare practices are not up to acceptable standards has seen some Merino wool processors bypass the country to source wool from New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

Meridian brings wool carpet yarn production back to North America

Meridian Specialty Yarn Group (MSYG), a leading US based specialty yarn manufacturer, has begun production of wool and wool/polyester blend carpet yarns at the company's newly expanded Ranlo, NC, plant.

Your Couch May Be Harming Your Child's Brain

The sofa in your living room, your mattress, and the armchair in your den-those are just a few of the common household items to which manufacturers might add flame retardants. After all, no one wants a lit cigarette dropped on a bed to burn down an entire home. A study released Monday about health concerns linked to the use of flame retardants might reignite the push to get the chemicals banned nationwide.

How Prince Charles set fire to a pile of jumpers and buried others in a flowerbed to show why we should wear more woollen clothes

He is well known for his passion for plants, but this may be the strangest crop the Prince of Wales has yet tried to raise. The Prince has disclosed how, in a curious experiment to establish the comparative qualities of wool and synthetic fibre, he buried two jumpers in a flower bed at Clarence House.

Wool mulesing discounts to come 'sooner than later' as non-mulesed orders increase

Substantial discounts will be applied to Australian wool from mulesed sheep "sooner than later" unless the industry implements a plan to phase out the flystrike preventative process, according to Italian processors.

APVMA approves Bayer's Avenge for flystrike

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has today announced that Bayer's pour-on lousicide Avenge has now also been approved for blowfly control in short wool.

Wool market indicator push

An indicative micron price guide is being developed by Australian Wool Growers Association (AWGA) in an attempt to sustain current volumes of wool production.

Greens visit dry Darling River and promise to push for Murray-Darling Basin Plan reform and irrigation licences

The Greens have taken their campaign to the bush as farmers in south-west New South Wales prove the lower Darling River is so dry you can cook a lamb chop on it. Farmers from Pooncarie and Menindee shared their concerns around the river with Senator Richard Di Natale over a barbecue on the bed of the Darling River.

River's history just a dry argument

Where paddle steamers once plied the waters of the Darling River, there is now only sand. The empty banks lined with centry-old red gums cut through the boundary of Tolarno station like a giant excavation.

Can't Sleep? The 7 Surprising Sleep Benefits Of Wool

Trouble sleeping? Have you tried wool? It may surprise you to learn that nature's miracle material could be the key to a better night's sleep. Wool is a natural sleeping aid, so if you're not sleeping well, switching to wool bedding is one way to improve your snooze quality. Here's how...

2016 Campaign For Wool presents The five freedoms of sheep

As we've previously reported, The Campaign for Wool was initiated by HRH The Prince of Wales to highlight the natural, sustainable story of wool and improve understanding of the fibre's many attributes.

AWI Strategic Plan Development 2016/17 to 2018/19

The 2016/17 to 2018/19 Strategic Plan is the result of our consultation with woolgrowers, the guidance of the Board of Directors of Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI), and the priorities of both.

Stakeholder consultation

In consultation with stakeholders, AWI is developing its Strategic Plan for 2016/17 to 2018/19. The purpose of the Plan is to outline AWI's key investment priorities in research, development and marketing for the three years from 1 July 2016. In the lead up to the next WoolPoll, AWI will be measured against the targets set in the Plan, through the independent Review of Performance.

Global wool industry reviews mulesing standards, considers mandatory pain relief

The global wool industry will consider adding the mandatory use of pain relief during the mulesing of lambs to a document setting out welfare standards for producers.

Italian wool textile sector seeks urgent action on mulesing and animal welfare

Italy's wool textile industry has had a discussion on a call for urgent action from the International Wool Textile Organisation on sheep welfare standards and mulesing deferred until November.

Mulesing motion wins wide support in NSW Parliament

New South Wales' parliament has unaminously passed a motion urging the state's wool producers to provide pain relief when mulesing sheep and to breed for fly strike resistance.

AWGA News Update: Email from AHA

Animal Health Australia is pleased to announce the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines - for Sheep Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines - for Cattle and the have been agreed by State and Territory governments.