VICTORIAN ultrafine wool growers David and Susan Rowbottom have won the prestigious Zegna Vellus Aureum Trophy for the seventh time with a new world record 9.4 micron fleece.

AUSTRALIAN wool growers have joined the fight against the life-crippling Motor Neurone Disease with the sale of the first ever pure Merino FightMND scarves.

TASMANIAN premier Merino wool operation Kingston Superfine and more confident auction sentiments provided some positive points in the wool market this week.

A number of leading figures in the superfine wool industry say there is major potential for better quality in wool in the future, but major challenges like work shortages continue to hinder the local industry.

Fine wool prices have rebounded from a pandemic low of $8 a kilogram, but is the suit-buying rush enough to revive the industry?

A STRONGER commitment to excellence and sustainability would lead to more brands considering direct investment in superfine wool-growing farms, Australian growers were told at the weekend.

AUSTRALIA’S top superfine wool growers celebrated their farms’ best efforts at the weekend, led by a world-best 9.8 micron fleece from Victoria and a 15 micron bale from New South Wales.

In the 58th Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Awards presented at Ararat, Victorian producers Brad and Melissa Sandlant won the prestigious Zegna Vellus Aureum Trophy for the first time with a shedded 9.8 micron fleece weighing about 1.1 kilograms.

NON-MULESED ultrafine Merino wool sold for up 9000c/kg for south-west Victorian growers this week in the highest Australian auction prices paid for several years.

The prestigious Ermenegildo Zegna fleece competitions have opened for entries for 2022, marking the return of the awards following a hiatus due to the impacts of COVID-19.

The Superfine Wool Trophy and the Vellus Aureum Trophy celebrate Australia's best superfine and ultrafine wool, supporting growers in their quest to produce the finest fleeces.

PRODUCING excellent superfine Merino wool is an art, a passion and a livelihood for the Linke family at their Glenholme property at Tarrington in Victoria’s south-west.

This week the Linkes – Everard and his wife Marilyn, and son Matthew – offered their first trio of 1PP bales in Melbourne, prepared to their exacting standards of consistency in quality, diameter, length, tensile strength and yield.

A Tasmanian stud has been awarded the grand champion fleece in the Australian Superfine Wool Growers' Association 2020-21 competition.

Carol and Allan Phillips, Glen Stuart Merinos, won with a score of 98.1.

A Tasmanian wool operation has won the country’s most prestigious superfine wool award.

Deddington wool growers Carol and Allan Philips have been named as the winners of this year’s Ermenegildo Zegna Superfine Wool Trophy.

David and Susan Rowbottom from Rowensville, St Helens, in south-west Victoria, have added a sixth Vellus Aureum Trophy for producing the finest Merino fleece in the world.

Their winning 10.6 micron wether fleece weighed 0.86kg and scored 89.60 points.

The Rowbottoms, who have also finished second in the competition four times, run 3000 Merinos including a flock of between 600 and 700 special ultrafines.

DUNCAN and Jess Barber’s traditional sheep enterprise has hit perfect harmony.

Using a slow and steady expansion strategy over the past 15 years, the couple has invested in a quartet of properties, multiplied sheep numbers, boosted their wool’s quality and strength, all while doubling production volume.

The 116-year-old conservationist-led farm, Kingston, will be secured as a supplier for the brand.

The agreement includes the exclusive supply of Kingston superfine 16-micron Merino wool for the brand’s ‘single-source’ suits, blazers and ties.

BETTER PLANNING: Noel Henderson says Australian Wool Innovation needs to have a long-term strategic plan for improved marketing and research outcomes.

Noel Henderson says the current Australian Wool Innovation board doesn't want change and a renewal is needed.

CENTRAL Victorian Saxon Merino flock Coliban Park has won the prestigious annual Vitale Barberis Canonico Wool Excellence Award for the first time.

VBC principal Alberto Barberis Canonico and the company’s raw procurement manager Davide Fontaneto presented Duncan and Jess Barber, and their son Jack, with the award at The Prince Deck Melbourne last night.

Opposition is mounting this week to a proposed change “by stealth” of the definition of sheep mulesing in Victoria.

Superfine wool grower John Ive's research and scientific studies have had major benefits for the farming community and now the industry is giving thanks.

Leading businessman and Tasmanian superfine grower, Simon Cameron, has been chosen as the industry's independent representative on Australian Wool Innovation's board nomination committee.