The journey of education and adoption for the Queensland sheep industry is on track with the establishment of four regional coordinating groups as part of the Leading Sheep project.

Leading Sheep chair Denzil Mills said the three-year project was an initiative of Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and supported by AgForce, which targeted the adoption of new technologies and practices to increase the productivity of the Queensland sheep industry.

Mrs Mills said stakeholder input was instrumental to the project's success and Leading Sheep had now established regional networks of Queensland wool growers to work together on current local issues and opportunities.

"The operational structure of Leading Sheep will include four regional groups that have been established to prioritise the outcomes for each region and to develop targeted strategies and activities. The regional groups are based on Queensland vegetation types: Mitchell Grass Downs in the central west, Mulga in the south west, Box/Sandalwood in the south, and Traprock in the south east."

"Leading Sheep will deliver its activities though these regional groups which represent key project partners including producers, research organisations, and educational institutions."

The Mulga group comprises of DPI&F Charleville extension officer Guy Newell, and wool producers Mark Lyons from Augathella, Kathy Schmidt from Cunnamulla, Will Roberts from Morven and Sue Stirton from Cheepie.

The Mitchell Grass group comprises of DPI&F Longreach extension officer Ian McConnel, wool producers Andrew Pegler from Isisford, Rick Keogh from Blackall and Rod Ross from Longreach, and Brian O'Reilly from the Longreach Pastoral College.

The Box/Sandalwood group comprises of DPI&F Charleville extension officer Tony Hamilton, and wool producers Don Perkins from Dirranbandi, Lloyd Harth from Surat and Dugald Cameron from Bollon.

The Traprock group comprises of DPI&F Goondiwindi extension officer Lloyd Dunlop, and wool producers Mark Murphy from Goondiwindi, Inglewood's Linden Charles, and Bruce McLeish from Karara.

Mrs Mills said Queensland woolgrowers were encouraged to contact any of their regional representatives to discuss issues they might have in regard to on-farm productivity and the Leading Sheep project team will look at ways of addressing these issues.

The regional groups are currently in the process of appointing their independent coordinators.

Mrs Mills said the project team and project partners, with the support of regional coordinators, will undertake the delivery of activities, including training, workshops, field days, on-property demonstrations and information delivery.

"The establishment of these regional coordinating groups as part of the Leading Sheep project promises to be a significant step to ensuring the prosperity and productivity of the Queensland wool industry," she said.

Leading Sheep has a three-year budget of $2.4 million that includes $1 million funding from AWI and $1.4 million in-kind support from DPI&F and AgForce.

The objective of Leading Sheep is to focus on five outcomes that have been identified through industry consultation as the key constraints on productivity for the wool industry: reduced predation, higher reproduction rates, increased value of wool and meat, more effective parasite control, and improved resource management.

For more information contact Leading Sheep project manager, Geoff Knights, DPI&F St George on (07) 4620 8121 or email geoff.knights@dpi.qld.gov.au