Humans of Agriculture Tom and Mick are back! This time with wool buyer José Paz Vermal
After a brief hiatus, Tom and Mick are back at it...
This time they sit down with their first international guest, José Paz Vermal of Argentina, to discuss the current state of play in the wool market.
Summary
This chat delves into the dynamics of the global wool market, discussing current trends and challenges. The market hasn't been flash for a while, but José thinks that can be turned around with a focus on quality and better marketing. Find out what opportunities there are for growers in 'nature positive' wools and why José is ok with being nicknamed 'the toe cutter', and other such things, when he reveals his alter ego on the wool buying floor!
Takeaways
- Wool clip is down across the board, drought conditions are impacting wool yields and specs aren't great
- The wool market has barely budged in recent years, partly due to European businesses struggling to sell goods post-Covid
- José predicts an upward trend in wool prices, with supply dropping off
- Premiums still exist! Up to 30% for some cuttings
- Trump's tariffs have impacted confidence and the Australian market will likely feel it in the next 6-8 months, depending on conversations had between China and the US
- Australia is ahead of other countries with applying technologies to farming, we just need to market our clip better
Chapters
01:45 Jose's Journey: From Argentina to Australia
06:01 Understanding the Wool Market Dynamics
10:01 Market Trends and Challenges in Wool Buying
22:06 Future Opportunities in Wool Production
27:09 Predictions for the Wool Market
We've managed to snag Tom and Mick for a monthly livestock chat from now on, so keep eye on your feed.
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