THERE are two things wool producers must do before Australian Wool Innovation's annual meeting on November 19.
They should cast a vote in the election, and secondly, they must cast a vote for the future of wool, particularly the future of Australian Merino wool.
The latest collapse in the wool market will do little to encourage interest in the AWI election.
In such times, it is usually the agitated minority who care to vote.
Last year's election, like many before it, attracted a participation rate of just 17 per cent. This time, matters are far more serious.
What wool desperately needs is a shot of marketing confidence, rather than a board-room brawl.
Unfortunately, that brawl has been triggered by directors who can't accept a code of conduct for their responsibilities.
Much of it is deliberate and part of an election strategy, encouraged by the Australian Wool Growers Association, to wrest control of the board, which is backed by WoolProducers.
But despite the board-room friction, AWI is as not dysfunctional as many of those challenging for a spot on the board would want shareholders to believe.
The fact that the entire AWI board, with support from all industry sectors, including AWGA, was able to develop a $120 million, three-year marketing plan is testament to its effectiveness.
That plan, which depends on an end to mulesing, should be allowed to run its course.
A vote for the five challengers would represent not only a big victory for AWGA but also for PETA, which would welcome a divided AWI board.
The challengers, who want to scuttle the 2010 mulesing commitment, will argue a vote for them would be a victory for the welfare of Merino sheep.
They may be right but the prospects of alienating the world's big apparel retailers and manufacturers, who want an end to mulesing, is far more serious.
A vote for the challengers will also put paid to AWI recruiting independent, skills-based directors.
Two years ago, a majority of the 55 per cent of growers who participated in WoolPoll voted to continue the 2 per cent levy.
If they want to protect that levy investment they would be wise to vote in the coming election, and preferably for a return of the incumbent directors.
