AgForce Sheep & Wool is the peak lobby group for Queensland sheep producers, representing more than 5500 members. We support both sectors of the industry – sheepmeat and wool – recognising that both must be profitable to maintain a prosperous sheep industry into the future. We work on members' behalf to ensure the long-term growth, viability, competitiveness and profitability of the sheep industry in Queensland, an industry which is the backbone of many rural and regional communities.

Priorities for 2020-21

At a time when the opportunity exists to diversify into or continue with small livestock enterprises, the AgForce Sheep & Wool Board are encouraging new entrants and lobbying governments and industry by:

• Limiting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on members, their families, and their livelihoods
• Producing a “Blueprint for the Queensland Sheep Industry” to outline realistic and achievable targets for our industry, and providing a clear approach to achieving them
• Contributing to the development of both the red meat and wool industry 10-year strategic plans
• Contributing to policy development and advocacy efforts through the peak industry bodies of WoolProducers Australia, Sheep Producers Australia, and the Goat Industry Council of Australia
• Strongly encouraging the use of pain relief for mulesing as best practice, demonstrating a desire to improve animal welfare outcomes, and incorporating more education and awareness initiatives to ensure producers accurately complete the National Wool Declaration
• Advocating for continued financial assistance from government for control of wild dogs.

The Sheep & Wool Board maintain active engagement and involvement with the industry’s national peak bodies, with a representative on WoolProducers Australia’s Board and ‘Health and Welfare’ Committee, and representatives on Sheep Producers Australia’s four policy committees of ‘Marketing, Market Access and Trade’, ‘Product Integrity’, ‘Health and Welfare’ and ‘Research, Development and Adoption’.

National Wool Declaration

The Sheep & Wool Board reviewed the National Wool Declaration (NWD), providing a written submission to Australian Wool Exchange on the 1^st July 2019. Please login to the member area above to see the most recent update from February 2020.