YOUNG farmers should get involved in the Taralga Region Flock Ewe Competition, says this year's winner John Corby.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
He said it nurtured continual improvement and was an ideal opportunity for valuable industry feedback.
Mr Corby (pictured with his winning ewe flock on "Hilltop") grew up at Taralga and embarked on a career as a shearer before establishing a Border Leicester stud.
He has since turned his focus to Merinos, and the dedication put into his flock showed with his recent win.
Mr Corby said feedback from respected wool industry judges was a highlight of the competition, but it was also a chance to see what others were doing with their flocks and, in turn, receive their insights.
He said while wool prices had been up and down, generally he was satisfied.
"If you are getting 1000 cents a kilogram for 19.5-micron wool and cutting 4.5 kilograms, that's not a bad return."
It was important to always pursue quality, he said, as at the end of the day this translated into returns.
"It costs the same amount of money to drench, crutch and shear a good sheep as it does for a bad sheep - in the end it is about dollars per hectare."
Nick Heydon
The Land's property editor.
The Land's property editor.
