MEETING the challenges of top wool production will be a focus of the 2019 Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association’s seminar and fleece competition this month.

The seminar on 18 May at the University of New England’s Kirby SMART Farm will focus on developments to meet the industry’s challenges.

Speakers will come from the university, the Sheep CRC, the University of Queensland’s Centre for Applied Sciences, Australian Wool Innovation and the ranks of industry specialists and consultants.

The ASWGA said the conference will be of interest to all wool growers facing climate variability and pasture growth challenges. Presentation topics will include updates on genomic testing, and research into flystrike, wool biosecurity, smart tags, robotic shearing and the 2019 IWTO conference in Venice.

Key speakers will include the UQ Centre research fellow Dr Chelsea Jarvis on climate variability, agronomist Lester McCormick on pasture regeneration and drought, the University of Edinburgh’s Dr Francisco Ascul on farm capital value and Centre for Invasive Species chair Helen Cathles on animal welfare and predators.

The Sheep CRC’s Dr Leis Kahn will outline the latest capabilities of the wellbeing app ASKBILL, producer Richard Keniry will outline the Merino Lifetime Productivity Project, AWI’s general manager of research, Dr Jane Littlejohn will talk about AWI’s latest research and consultant Dr Paul Swan will tell wool’s sustainability story.

Other presentations will cover weather forecasting, sheep genetics, genomic selection, ethical wool production and grower insights gleaned from European processors.

The cost of the seminar is $35. For more details and to RSVP contact Melissa Mulley on [email protected]