| Two-thirds of Queensland sheep producers are engaging with the Leading Sheep network, according to a telephone survey conducted late last year on a representative sample of the state’s sheep and wool producers.
The Management Practice Change Survey poll found that 67 percent of sheep and wool producers surveyed had attended a Leading Sheep activity or received information from the network, and 74 percent of these indicated the Leading Sheep activity or information had influenced their current or future actions.
Leading Sheep is an Australian Wool Innovation project in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) and supported by AgForce, which targets the adoption of new technologies and practices to increase the productivity and profitability of the Queensland sheep and wool industry.
Project chair and Traprock wool producer Denzil Mills was pleased with Leading Sheep’s achievements during the past year and the contributions made by producers on the four regional committees that guide activities.
“The regional committees determine the direction of their regions and this grassroots involvement of producers in guiding the project ensures that the regional activities and events are relevant and effective,” Ms Mills said.
“The extreme drought situation in Queensland has only been slightly alleviated by rising medium wool prices. But despite all this, Leading Sheep achieved quite a number of the goals we had set for the past 12 months,” she said.
Leading Sheep project manager Geoff Knights said the Management Practice Change Survey was developed to meet the project objective of: “measuring how much impact the Leading Sheep project was having on management practices of Queensland sheep and wool producers.”
This survey involved 93 producers (23 from South East, 26 from Southern Inland, 20 from South West, and 24 from Central West) during September-October 2006 and confirmed that the project has been active and influential in the industry.
The aim of the poll was to determine issues, management practices and participation in Leading Sheep activities in the following areas: predation, reproduction, parasites, wool and sheep sales value and natural resource management. The survey will be repeated with the same producers in 12-months time to determine further changes in management practice and the impact of Leading Sheep.
“This phone survey information supports the approach Leading Sheep is taking in terms of the main issues for producers – with predation and reproduction remaining high on their priority list,” Mr Knights said.
The survey results were compiled by DPI&F extension officer Nicole Sallur and are available on the Leading Sheep website www.leadingsheep.com.au – which is now a key communication tool in providing details about upcoming events and Leading Sheep regional committee contacts.
For details, contact Geoff Knights on geoff.knights@dpi.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4620 8121.
Release prepared by Jane Milburn, jane@milburnmedia.com, 0408 787 964
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