The announcement last month by the Victorian Premier that Melbourne abattoir and meat processing facilities in metropolitan Melbourne would be subject to workforce capacity restrictions continues to impact the industry and greatly concern producers and processors.
NON-MULESED ultrafine Merino wool sold for up 9000c/kg for south-west Victorian growers recently in the highest Australian auction prices paid for several years.
NSM Merino ewe hoggets registered a large jump in supplies this week, at 21,024 head. Interestingly both price and clearance levels for the category also increased - with an 87% clearance and averaging $22 higher, at $282/head.
Mixed results were achieved across the six categories, with Merino ewe, wether, and first cross ewe lamb categories averaging higher, while prices in crossbred, shedding breed and composite lamb categories registered price reductions.
Mark and Vicki Murphy have undertaken a personal challenge to make the Merino a more productive, easier care, sustainable and enjoyable to manage sheep.
In many sheep producing regions sheep producers are counting some wins at present, particularly around the improvement in season, as well as the ability of the processing sector to continue to operate during a pandemic.
Peak woolgrower representative body, WoolProducers Australia, is working with the National Farmers’ Federation and the Shearing Contractors’ Association of Australia to protect Australia’s shearing workforce.
The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) rose 19c on Tuesday and then fell 4c on Wednesday, overall closing out the week up 15c at 1,350c/kg, or 978c/kg in US dollar terms.