A continued deterioration in seasonal conditions across Australia, with a failure of late winter and spring rain, has resulted in a further downward revision to Australian wool production in 2006/07.
In the latest release by the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Production Forecasting Committee, the forecast for Australian shorn wool production in the 2006/07 season is 421 mkg, 9 percent lower than the previous season.
The new forecast represents a further downward revision of 3 percent or 13 mkg greasy compared with the September 2006 forecast.
The further decline in wool production is based on a fall in fleece weights, which nationally are forecast to reach their lowest level in over 20 years.
Committee Chairman Dr David James said this historically low level of average fleece weights across Australia reflects all states across Australia experiencing drought conditions, as well as less merino wethers and more lambs in the flock.
“For the first time in at least a decade, virtually all key wool producing areas in each state are experiencing drought conditions. Unlike the 2002 drought, which was largely across the eastern seaboard, the current drought is Australia-wide.”
Dr James said shorn wool production is forecast to diminish significantly in the second half of the 2006/07 season when the full impact of the existing drought will be felt.
Rainfall for the critical August to October period in South Australia were the lowest on record over the last 100 years, the second lowest in Victoria and the third lowest in NSW. Further to this, above average temperatures have occurred over the same period.
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