Talking shearing innovations with the wool industry
Description
In this week’s episode we’re talking about innovations and technology within the shearing industry.
The wool and shearing industry is probably not the first people think of when it comes to agtech, being one of the more traditional within agriculture.
But the shearer shortage and rise of large sheep within the industry has encouraged the sector to develop new technology that will offer wool growers more options and help attract and retain shearers.
In this episode we speak to Carolina Diaz from the Australian Wool Innovation about some of the new technology coming through the pipeline, in particular biological wool harvesting.
We also talk to brothers Glenn and Chris Haynes about shearing modules that eliminate the need for shearers to catch and drag the sheep, the part of the process that often leads to the most injuries.
Glenn is from the Shearer’s Contractors Association Australia (SCAA) Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc. and designed the modules in collaboration with AWI, woolgrowers and champion shearers.
While, Chris is from Haynes Engineering, one of several companies building the shearing modules and seeing them implemented by growers across the country.
And we catch up with wool grower Will Shippen, who started using the shearing modules out of necessity during a flood, but found they improved efficiency and so has continued to use them ever since.