AWEX is planning to conduct up to 225 on-farm audits in the first year of the National Wool Declaration's Integrity Program, which begins next month.
However, AWEX chief executive Mark Grave assured producers and classers who attended last week's woolclasser forum in Bendigo that the inspections would not be invasive.
An inspection rate of 225 audits would satisfy the demands of the British Retail Consortium which recommended an audit or inspection rate of 5 per cent of all declarations.
Mr Grave said AWEX would be looking for evidence that any details regarding the mulesing status provided on the declarations were correct.
He said these inspections would include checking for sheep which had been declared unmulesed, or lambs where the declaration was for "ceased mulesing".
Mr Grave said the voluntary NWD should be looked upon as "another step in the information pipeline".
Leaky boat
GOT word this week, dare I call it a leak, that Australian Wool Innovation is really serious about finding out who is "leaking" all sorts of goings on at the boardroom table.
C&C hears that an IT or computer expert has been commissioned to do a forensic investigation of office emails etc.
Lot of good that will do.
C&C's free advice to AWI is stop worrying about the leaks or paying for some forensic investigation.
Let's first fix the problem.
Leaks will always spring from organisations, companies, government departments and political parties whenever there is dissension and disagreement.
It's ewe time
LAMB prices may be at record levels, but according to Meat and Livestock Australia sheep research manager Richard Apps the real challenge was now to ensure the sustainability of the industry.
For this reason MLA is banding together with the major livestock agencies, the Sheepmeat Council of Australia, the Sheep Co-operative Research Centre and the state departments of agriculture to conduct what they describe as "must-attend" seminars beginning next month.
The seminars - Making More From Sheep - have the theme "it's ewe time".
Mr Apps said the one-day seminars will focus on maximising the performance of ewes.
Seminars for southern sheep producers will be held at Wagga Wagga, NSW, on July 27; Carrick, Tasmania, July 29; Hamilton, Victoria, August 24; and Narracoorte, South Australia, August 26.
For further information, visit the Making More from Sheep website.
