Local farmers are yet to work with the new ‘eBale’ woolpacks which began being phased in for the wool industry since 1 July, as existing piles of traditional woolpacks need to be used up first.

The eBales promise to make the entire process from shearing shed to shipping more efficient through the inclusion of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking systems sewn into the bag to help during shipping and handling. 

Unique QR codes are printed on the label to digitise information that is currently written or stencilled onto the wool bale.

This means that information such as farm branding, wool classification, weight, a classers stencil, and the bale number will all be digitally entered by the wool classer instead of written on the bale.

Instead of a trusty marking pen or stencil, classers will use tablets or phones with the free WoolClip app installed on it to log and upload the data.

From then, anyone along the production line can trace a bale back to the shearing shed it came from.

Equally, growers can track where their bale ends up.

The WoolClip app which logs the data on the QR code can also be used while out of mobile service, and will store the data and then upload it when the classer or grower gets back into service.

Implementation will be slow.

The focus at the moment is on using all the old non-eBale stock.

All production of non-eBale woolpacks ceased on 31 December 2022 and importation ceased on 30 June 2023.

The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) CEO Mark Grave says the transition towards eBales will take some time.

“Australia is at the beginning of the transition phase of the implementation of eBale and there will be a supply of wool packs on-farm and at merchandise outlets that were imported/purchased prior to the changeover date (1 July 2023),” said Mr Grave.

“Wool growers are encouraged to continue to use the ‘old’ wool packs so they can quickly flow through the supply chain and be replaced by the eBale wool packs as quickly as possible.”

This true for Coonamble, where stocks of eBale wool packs are yet to hit shelves.

Growers to bear the cost

The AWEX estimates eBale wool packs will cost 75 cents more per pack than the old ones.

Growers will also bear any costs associated with the use of tablets or phones to log the data.

However, Mark Grave says growers will benefit greatly from the new technology.

“The benefits to growers and classers are clear,” said Mr Grave.

“Reduced errors, the creation of a permanent ‘softcopy’ of the wool specification that can be printed if and when its required, the quick production of the classer’s specification, and easy to read specifications that can assist in getting wool to market quickly are all benefits.”

Traceability back to farms is an expected benefit of the new technology.

“Wool bale traceability will be a benefit that evolves as the unique bale numbers will have relevance in the event of an emergency animal disease event and completion of National Wool Declarations,” said Mr Grave.

“Traceability is becoming increasingly important to the market and rolling out the eBale across all wool packs is an exciting development that will benefit wool growers and the broader industry.”