The Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc offers a student study bursary valued at $1000 to provide financial assistance to final year students studying agricultural science. Apply for your Student Bursary today - 2008 applications close 30th April. You must be a current financial member to apply
2007 Student BursaryApplications for the Joyce Gillespie Student Bursary were so good that two were awarded. Congratulations to Christopher Dunn from Latrobe University and William Johanson from Melbourne University, who are both in their final year in a Bachelor of Agricultural Science Degree.
2006 Student BursaryLast year (2006) Fiona Frawley and Sarah Paterson, who were both completing their honours year in Agriculture and commerce at the university of Melbourne, were the successful Recipients. The effect of low staple strength on farm wool profitabilityby Fiona Frawley, 2006 Joyce Gillespie Bursary recipient This abstract summarises the research Fiona undertook for her Honours year in Agriculture and Commerce at The University of Melbourne last year.Australia produces 98% of the world’s fine wool and quality fine wool attracts price premiums at auction. Fine wool, however, can be more susceptible to breakage because of low staple strength or ‘tender’ wool. Tender wool receives price discounts that range from 3 to 30%, which greatly impacts on farm wool income. Producers first need to determine if staple strength is a problem in their wool clip by estimating the income forgone as a result of strength discounts before evaluating management strategies for overcoming tender wool. This study examined industry and a case-study farm data to determine if poor staple strength is a problem in south western Victoria. These data showed that almost one third of all wool sold had poor staple strengths.
In these years, the profits from wool of sound strength was almost double that from tender wool. However, in years when wool prices and discounts were low, the profit differences from strong and tender wool were marginal, and had little effect on final profits. Strategies to reduce tender wool however add to the production costs. It was estimated that to increase the staple strength of the wool of breeding ewes by 5 N/ktex costs $3.29/head. In years of high prices, this cost is outweighed by the increased returns (for example, $8.98/ewe in 2001-02, and $7.09/ewe in 2002-03) but in years of lower wool prices, it decreased profits.
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