Who woulda thought?

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By Dwain Duxson

Who woulda thought? - I was reading this morning about how we are staring at a $4 billion-plus Cotton Crop this coming season. And it occurred to me that it's now a bigger industry than Wool. Google, which led me to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestries, tells me that Wool Exports totalled $3.9 billion in 21-22. So Cotton is now bigger. 

The Wool industry is a proud and iconic story that we basically built our Agricultural industry around, whoever would have thought, even up until a few years ago, that the Cotton cousin would surpass the iconic fibre.

Wool has taken a belting since the late 80s, with Sheep people still going out of Wool and opting for Shedding or Meat Breeds. The decline has accelerated in the more courser micron range, where it's now an irretrievable expense (it costs more to Shear them than what you make). 

The Cotton industry does fluctuate depending on Water availability and price. As we sit here today, it's in a sweet spot with an ample supply of low-cost Water, good prices and export demand we can't supply. As for the Wool industry, don't write it off just yet, those who are believers are as passionate as ever, and the good Producers are making a fist of it.  

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