WOOL growers are planning to maintain or increase their ewe flocks, a positive sign for the industry.

Australian Wool Innovation today released information from the wool production forecasting committee which shows 2012/13 production is forecast at 345 mkg greasy, a 0.9 per cent increase on 2011/12 production.

The committee's chairman Russell Pattinson said Western Australian fleece weights had increased but was largely offset by a fleece weight reduction in South Australia due to drier seasonal conditions.

The opening sheep numbers for 2012/13 have been adjusted to 75 million, an increase from 2011/12's opening number of 73.1 million sheep.

"Results from the most recent MLA/AWI grower survey are also positive. Seventy-five per cent of growers indicated they will maintain or increase their ewe flock this year and there was also an indication of a small shift toward using more Merino rams," he said.

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