What good are they based on their past record?

I would'nt worry too much about their forecasts.

Wool is going to become even shorter in supply, which probably means prices should stay the same, or maybe increase even more in price if the dollar stays the same.

Industry on Farm R&D by AWI has been a complete failure in producing any returns for wool growers.

The market overall, whether it is wool or meat, needs stimulation if prices are to increase.

Wool's short supply has led to the current boom in prices ... nothing more than this.

In reality, the supply shortage is not going to be solved for several years until kind weather seasons allow more confidence for flock numbers to be rebuilt.

Many growers have taken a flogging in past seasons with drought and ongoing poor wool prices.

Whether mills and processors like it, short supply is going to be a normality in the future.

Unless potential wool growers can see a profitable future, no one will invest in wool until this happens.

Therefore, it doesnt matter what wool market intellegence (is this an oxymoron) says.

First I read the AWI $5m promotional campaign for Merino wool in the US (launched two years) ago was highly successful.

Demand increased between 11% to 13% by garment and 6% to 7% by value.

Sounds very positive stuff, but how did the increased value of sales translate to more money for woolgrowers?

It was their money used for the campaign, but it seems someone else gains the financial benefits.

Then I read that BWK Elders Aus are using more synthetics in blends simply because Merino wool prices are now too high.

Then I read the IWTO is recommending woolgrowers fund a further US$250,000 targeted campaign in Japan.

Quite mixed messages.

On the one hand IWTO and AWI are recommending woolgrowers fund promotional campaigns to increase demand and value for Merino wool, and at the same time their members are saying wool is too expensive so they are now using synthetic fibre in blends to remain price competitive.

I am confused, are you?

The key to the future viability of wool enterprises is to create real demand, which will increase sales volume & hold or increase sales price.

Unfortunately most of the current "demand" & lift in wool prices is due to a lack of supply (or at times perceived lack of supply).

The last major lift in wool prices was in 2002, due to the end of the stockpile, & caused plenty of pain through the pipeline which growers paid dearly in lower prices.

We have increased volume & value of sales with lamb, & improved the lamb product.

Between 1988 & 2005 lamb production increased by 29% despite sheep numbers falling by 33%.

Lamb was worth $1.4 billion in 2005-06, an increase of 88% since 1995-96.

60% of the compulsory levy on lambs goes to marketing & promotion.

Australian wool must copy the template of Australian lamb for growth & prosperity.

get yourself elected to the board of AWI or IWTO for as long as you can and then retire.

There are also plenty of well paid employees in the above organisations who have received salary increases during the past 5 years when sheep numbers have declined to around 90 million & production has declined to around 400 million kg.