| Motivated Queensland producers have a unique opportunity to participate in a workshop in the New Year that has the potential to set up direct marketing supply chains for specific wool types.
The Developing Wool Supply Chains workshop organised by Leading Sheep is scheduled for Wednesday 28 February at St George from 9.30am-4.30pm and will be run by high-calibre facilitator Robert Wallace.
Leading Sheep Southern Inland coordinator Emily Martin said Mr Wallace is a wool marketing consultant with significant experience in helping producers to develop wool supply chains which link production more directly with the market demand.
The workshop will attract a statewide audience because it is canvassing all aspects of direct marketing – including the risks, challenges, costs, effort and benefits – and producers who wish to proceed will then be able to organise follow-up opportunities.
Leading Sheep is an innovative, regionally-based project working to boost the profitability of the Queensland sheep and wool industry. The project was initiated by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and operates in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and AgForce.
“From this particular activity, growers will gain knowledge about direct marketing, determine if it is for them and if so, what route to take, who to involve and how to manage the process,” Ms Martin said.
“If producers decide they want to go one step further, Robert Wallace will be available to facilitate the development of actual supply chains.”
Learning objectives of the Developing Wool Supply Chains activity are:
• identifying the various methods of direct marketing a wool clip, with or without a broker;
• assessing what can be gained for a wool clip if the producer goes down this path;
• identifying the risks that can be encountered in various direct marketing methods;
• coping strategies for managing the risks associated with direct marketing;
• developing contacts that are available to assist wool growers with direct marketing.
Mr Wallace’s qualifications include being engaged by AWI to write a Wool Marketing Guide for Wool Growers to help growers better understand the various alternatives for marketing wool. A copy of this guide will be available to those who attend the 28 February activity.
Wool grower and Leading Sheep Southern Inland regional committee member Don Perkins, from “Nelyambo” at Dirranbandi, said this activity was chosen with the view to setting up supply alliances as a way of ensuring messages about quality and demand requirements filtered down to the producer.
Registration information will be available in January however producers can register early interest by contacting Emily Martin on 07 4625 5444 for Don Perkins on 07 4625 8686.
For more information about Leading Sheep, visit www.leadingsheep.com.au
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