Welcome to the 8x5 Wool Profit Program.

What is the 8x5 Wool Profit Program?
The 8x5 Wool Profit Program is an extension program to assist Tasmanian wool producers to achieve an 8% annual return on assets managed within 5 years through access to benchmarking, best practice information, group improvement initiatives and a State-wide wool profit awards program.

Phase 2 of the 8x5 WPP is under way. Phase 1 of the program established an industry-wide monthly newsletter that aimed to keep industry producers and service providers up to date with timely, relevant, reliable and independent information on sheep wool production. It also raised industry awareness and understanding of key profit-drivers through action research programs and field-days associated with monitor farms and, specific workshops and forums. Phase 2 will add to this work, but will undertake a major step-out towards establishing a network of small groups across the Tasmanian sheep and wool industries.

8x5 Phase 2 - Mission
To facilitate change in the Tasmanian sheep & wool growing businesses towards more resilient and profitable production systems.

8x5 Phase 2 - Aims

GROUP DIRECTION APPROVED

James Walch - Chair 8x5 WPP Program Advisory Panel (PAP) reports on 8x5 WPP direction and Phase 2 with group based networks

Phase 2 of 8X5 is underway. The aim of the PAP is to capitalise on the good work of the program to date.

Why bother I hear you ask? Shouldn't we be spending all our money on promotion and market development? I believe that there needs to be compromise between on farm RD&E and promotional activities. Each is dependent on the other. We must not forget that without woolgrowers there will be no wool to market.

We should not forget that growing wool is profitable. It is not something that any farmer should be embarrassed about. 8X5 is the perfect medium to promote the message that wool growing is profitable and sustainable and has an excellent future. Growers need this network to move forward in the future. 8X5 has provided up to date information on the latest technologies and management practices. It has done this through its regular newsletters, field-days, workshops and monitor farms.

Phase 2 of 8x5 intends to build on this by developing a group based network. The aim is to provide facilitation to these groups so that they can pursue topics and information that will strengthen their wool growing enterprises. Growers will be in charge of their own destiny. I would encourage all of you who have had some involvement in 8X5 to take the next step and get involved in this group concept.

James Walch

The 8x5 WPP - Program Advisory Panel

The 8x5 WPP is overseen by an advisory panel that sets the strategic direction of the program. The PAP membership represents a strong list of industry and professional people with a real commitment to see the advancement of sheep and wool enterprises in Tasmania. The PAP members are: