Wool growers must embrace new technologies to keep their operations humming along as the pool of skilled labour dries up, western Queensland producer Dave Owens says.
Mr Owens runs a 25,000 acre wool property south of Longreach and is a member of the north and central west committee for Queensland's Leading Sheep forum.
A passionate wool producer who is keen to see the industry thrive, Mr Owens said it was crucial to keep an eye on ways to run a more efficient enterprise.
"Leading Sheep has looked into a lot of technology - water monitoring, electronic identification for sheep, sheep drafting," he said.
"A lot of stuff to help with the labour shortage that I believe is only going to get worse into the future.
"A lot of people - say young folk in cropping industries - have been quick to take up new innovations. But in Merino it's maybe been just a little bit slower."
Mr Owens currently runs about 3500 Merino sheep on his Somerset property.
It could be difficult to attract young blood into the sheep and wool sector, he said.
"It's tough. No one wants to go chasing Merinos around the paddock, they want to go north and chase bulls and get that in their blood.
"It can be hard to get young people to work sheep instead."
However, Mr Owens said the joys of being your own boss coupled with strong wool prices in recent years made it an immensely rewarding sector to work in.
The lure of new technologies and the promise of more efficient ways of working were also a plus, he added.
"We are looking to use innovation to get more people keen and to make it a more enjoyable job.
"The industry can be tough, there's a lot of hands on work and long days, but it is rewarding."
