Are you keen to get into Ag or fascinated by Australian AgTech or both?

Then the Australian Sheep & Wool Show’s Career and Technology Hub is your kind of place.

Highlighting pathways to exciting careers in agriculture, veterinary science, agribusiness and ag skills training while showcasing cutting-edge ag technologies is a focus of Sheep Show 2021.

New seminars, forums and agricultural education and skills training information sites are the must-see opportunities for people seeking to join our thriving primary industry sector.

‘Jobs, jobs, jobs’ is this year’s theme. And the talent is certainly out there.

One Australian university’s recent B.Agr.Sc. degree course intake jumped by 50% on the previous year and 55% applying for entrance were not from an agricultural or rural background.

The major reason given for students selecting the course was their search for a sustainable future.

With world food production required to double present production rates to meet the demands of the predicted 9.8 billion world population by 2050, the hunt is on for the farmers, scientists and agribusiness champions of the future.

We need you.

An exciting new seminar ‘Attracting Youth into Agriculture’, the Career and Technology Hub’s popular ‘Young Voices from the Land’ forums and the Ross McKenzie scholarship program are aimed at encouraging high school students, their parents and teachers to consider training and careers in a wide diversity of agribusinesses.

Universities, agricultural colleges, high schools and TAFE providers of agricultural education and skills training in Southern Australia will have information sites promoting their courses and scholarships.

Exciting state of the art new digital agricultural technologies including a data farm, Internet of Things (IoT), state of the art watering monitoring systems and electronic livestock identification innovations will be demonstrated and discussed throughout the Sheep Show.

Sponsors Agriculture Victoria, peak bodies Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), plus Gallagher Pty. Ltd. and other leading ag innovation companies are sponsoring information sites and seminars throughout the show.

If you are interested in a sustainable future, intrigued by Ag. Tech. and keen to use your talents for growing Australia’s food and fibre sector then make your way to the  2021-07-05 Advertisement Careers & Tech Hub Sheep Show and other information sites at the forthcoming Sheep & Wool Show 2021 on 16-18 July 2021.

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The many attributes of wool as a natural fibre are neatly summarised in this contribution from NewZealand.

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Wool Fabric and yarn sourcing guide goes digital.

“The Woolmark Company has launched the first edition of The Wool Lab Digital, a brand-new online platform for its respected wool fabric and yarn sourcing guide, which has been developed in response to the changing need of today’s market environment.

First launched 10 years ago, The Wool Lab is a guide to the best commercially available wool fabrics and yarns, created in collaboration with the most innovative and quality-oriented spinners, knitters and weavers from across the world. It has successfully become an important tool for the global fashion and textile industry, with its aim to increase the global demand and use of wool.

However, market changes imposed by the global pandemic – such as the cancellation of trade shows, widespread lockdowns and greatly reduced face to face meetings – meant that The Woolmark Company had to quickly adjust and find new ways to connect and strengthen our global supply change partnerships which is imperative within our industry.

As the solution, The Wool Lab Digital, launched in February (2021), provides a new digital showcase for wool fabric and yarn suppliers and a leading sourcing service for designers and wool buyers. While the structure and functionality of The Wool Lab has been adapted digitally to the times we are living in, the core of The Wool Lab remains the same.

The Wool Lab Digital is freely available to fashion and textile industry professionals in a dedicated area of www.woolmark.com. By simply registering users will be able to look through the guide and choose a selection of wool fabrics in which they are interested for their upcoming collections. Users will immediately receive and email with the detail of their chosen swatches along with the contact information of the applicable manufacturers that the user can contact and request samples.

As well as being in a new on-line format, The Wool Lab Digital has identified the new market trends and product innovations that are most relevant to the current unique global situation. Through these macro-trends, Merino wool reaffirms its position as the ultimate ingredient for both urban and active wear but also for leisure wear.”

Source:Beyond the Bale March 2021, Published by AWI.

Link: The Wool Lab Digital

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The Trust produces a summary report of its activities each year. These reports are intended to advise the organisations responsible for the appointment of Trustees about the Trust’s activities during the calendar year. However, they are also available to the general public.

Permanent links are provided on the home page.

The 2019/2020 Annual Report can also be accessed here – 2019/20 Annual Report

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The Trust supports the VET sector via 15 scholarships, valued at $3,000 each, being made available per year to students attending institutions in this sector. However, thus far only two VET Agricultural Colleges have taken advantage of these scholarships:

Applications for these scholarships are made on behalf of the student(s) by the institution at which the student is enrolled.

Tocal Awardees 2021

Justice Charter (Curban, NSW) Cert IV in Agriculture
Dougal Crofts (Kootingal, NSW) Cert III in Agriculture
Hannah Maciaczyk (Biala, NSW) Cert III in Agriculture

Cunderdin Awardees Class of 2020 Graduates

Larz Langford
George Burt
Charlotte Crossen

Cunderdin Students 2020
AWET Scholarships Cunderdin 2020

From left to right:

Madison Corsini (Assistant Farm Manager), Larz Langford, George Burt, Charlotte Crossen, Daniel De Beer (Farm Manager)

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From The International Wool Textiles Organisation , this video featuring Peter Ackroyd, provides a brief history of wool manufacturing, from its beginnings in Bradford UK at the start of the 19th Century.

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Applications for 2021 scholarships close on Friday 20th November 2020.

Applicants must download the following 3 documents:

Scholarship Application Instructions

Scholarship Application Form

Academic Referee’s Assessment

Applications for these scholarships must be made directly to the Trust and must be supported by an academic referee from the University at which the student is enrolled or intends to enrol.

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What is the best way to implement research findings in your flock?

AWI Change Makers is a new initiative which aims to assist woolgrowers in answering this question. With limited face-to-face woolgrower engagement opportunities throughout much of 2020, we will be bringing this to you online.

The first instalment of AWI Change Makers is now released, the ten-part short video series is centred around sheep reproduction topics, from ram health to preparing and managing ewes for joining, pregnancy and lambing and through to weaning management.

Leading livestock consultant, Nathan Scott of Achieve Ag Solutions, Victoria, is recording the AWI Change Makers series from home and will provide you with timely, technical management tips.

Nathan is keen to see the launch of the series which focuses on outcomes growers can use on-farm now.

“It is a great new initiative from AWI to provide research outcomes to growers in a really quick and accessible format. The lack of opportunities for producers to get together and engage with industry at the moment is a real challenge. The AWI Change Makers series is designed to start conversations for producers as we bring them information and help them identify opportunities for change.”

To find the videos when released, go online to www.wool.com/awichangemakers or give AWI a follow on our social media platforms below to ensure you stay up-to-date as we demonstrate a range of practical ways growers can influence sheep reproduction with the latest research and tools informed by AWI-funded research, development and extension outcomes.

To follow AWI’s social media go to Facebook @AustralianWoolInnovation, Twitter @woolinnovation and Instagram @beyondthebale.

Reproduced from feedback@wool.com, Wednesday 19th August, 2020.

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Using residual funds transferred from the Sheep CRC, the Australian Wool Education Trust is funding training in farm management apps developed by the CRC.

RamSelect:

ASKBILL

Lu Hogan (lhogan5@une.edu.au) is coordinating this training, which is being delivered by Laura Kemmis.

The Australian Wool Education Trust (woolwise.com) has made arrangements to facilitate access to these packages at no cost to students and teachers.

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The Young Farming Champions (YFC) are identified youth ambassadors and future influencers working within the agriculture sector.

Australia is the hottest, driest continent with some of the poorest soils on the planet, yet our farmers supply safe, affordable, nutritious food for 60 million people across the globe.

To do this Australian agriculture requires talented people. The program selects emerging young people and then develops their problem-solving, their creativity, their communication and teamwork skills.

The YFC has a two year program Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders designed and run to support young people involved in a broad range of agricultural careers – from farming to consulting to marketing – to be skilled, confident and comfortable to share their stories. This program is now open for expressions of interest.

The program supports selected young people through skills training, mentoring, coaching, networking and by providing them with opportunities to tell their story.

Running since 2009, more than 100 young leaders have been trained in the program.

All the information you need to know about the program can be found by clicking here.

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