Office Bearers 2011/12
President	Allan Phillips
Secretary/Treasurer	Michael Legge
Executive - Including President, Secretary/Treasurer	Allan Phillips, Michael Legge, Frank O'Connor, Rod Thirkell-Johnston
Delegates	Allan Phillips, Michael Legge, Frank O'Connor, Rod Thirkell-Johnston
Reserve Delegates	John Taylor, Richard Gee

November 2011

 

The kind seasonal conditions have continued in Tasmania, with good winter and spring rains. The sheep are generally in very good condition across the state.

 

Lambing has just about finished with some excellent percentages being recorded.  This will be a bonus to growers still trying to increase stock numbers.

 

Most of the shearing has been completed with still a number of wethers to be shorn in the next 6 weeks.  It should be noted that the wethers are still well down on traditional numbers.

 

The wool clip itself has been excellent with reports from growers, brokers and buyers claiming the clip to be one of the best in recent times.  Test results would have backed this up, being similar in micron, but well up on yield and tensile strength.

 

Most growers who have completed their shearing early have sold wool while the market was still solid.  Unfortunately the market seems to have lost confidence and the price has come back considerably.

 

At our TFMBA annual meeting we presented Allan Cameron with a Life Membership.  Allan has been involved in our association for many years, and has been a contributor at all levels.  He was one of the  Tasmanian members of the first ASWGA Council in 1971.

 

As we no longer have any wool sales in Tasmania our association has been concerned that growers may lose contact with buyers, wool preparation requirements and market signals.   The TFMBA in association with Roberts Ltd, organized an information day on superfine wool preparation, and the market outlook.

 

The day was held at “Douglas Park” Campbell Town, with speakers including Andrew Raeber New England Wool; Matt Hand Fox & Lillie, and Paul Swan AWI.  It was a very successful day with the 65 people attending all very positive about the day.