DON'T bother about counting sheep - counting the pennies is more important at the moment for Australian Wool Innovation.
In December, AWI gave notice to the Wool Production Forecasting Committee that it would be reviewing how the industry provided forecasts of the flock and likely wool production.
Because these forecasts, including surveys, have been funded by AWI to the tune of about $170,000, AWI was naturally keen to get value for their dollars.
AWI had proposed that this review would be completed by the end of last month with a recommendation expected by the end of this month.
So image the surprise at last week's executive meeting of the Federation of Australian Wool Organisations, which includes AWI, when it was learnt that AWI was proposing to chop all funds.
C&C hears AWI chief executive Brenda McGahan was sympathetic to the concerns expressed by the other parties representing brokers, exporters, producers and AWEX and was prepared to ask her board to reconsider.
Tassie sale fine but not super
THE lack of Italian orders failed to fire Tasmania's one and only specialty superfine sale in Launceston last week.
Tasmanian growers and brokers have been fighting to retain this specialty sale, which in the past was marked by world record prices.
Last Friday AWEX reported 11 buyers of the 2982 bales of Merino fleeces and skirtings.
Specialist Italian exporters, New England Wool and G Schneider, accounted for only 10 per cent of the purchases.
The Tasmanian prices were about 20c/kg up on last Wednesday's Melbourne sale.
For the week the Eastern Market Indicator rose 8c/kg to 924c/kg clean.
In US dollars the EMI fared better rising 14c/kg to US819c/kg clean.
