Leading Sheep South East region is offering Queensland producers an opportunity to travel to Dubbo in New South Wales to attend an Organic Wool Information Session being conducted by Fletcher International Exports on Friday 17 August at 8.15am.

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 industry.

DPI&F extension officer Tony Hamilton from Goondiwindi said the information session would offer sheep producers an opportunity to learn more about the requirements and premiums for supplying wool into an organic market.

“Leading Sheep is looking to subsidise a bus/car share trip to this session for interested producers,” Mr Hamilton said.

Participants will see a batch of organic wool processed, and hear talks from Fletcher representatives about the future prospects of and requirements for organic wool. Participants will also have an opportunity to tour Fletcher’s new meat processing facilities.

Fletcher International managing director Roger Fletcher will outline the future direction of the company, which is one of the largest meat and wool processors in Australia, and discuss overseas markets for sheep, meat and wool.

Export sales manager Basil Hall will discuss who is buying organic wool, what retailers want, trends, inroads in organic wool production, potential areas suited for organic production in Queensland and overcoming production issues to maintain organic status.

Export meat manager Bernard Gooch will speak on the same topics in relation to organic meat production.

Any south-east Queensland producers interested in attending the session with the support of Leading Sheep should contact Tony Hamilton on 0429 879 458 or 4671 6708 or anthony.hamilton@dpi.qld.gov.au before 6 August.