The region's wool growers are getting more for their fleece than they have in years.

The Eastern Market Indicator leapt to 962/kg on January 18, but came back to 933/kg on January 31.

In May 2002 the EWI peaked at around 1200/kg, but slumped to as low as 646/kg in November 2005.

Phil Toland of Violet Town's Toland Merinos said the price was very encouraging and should give growers some confidence.

He attributed the price rise to depleting wool supplies around the world, but said it did not necessarily apply to all microns.

"Merino sheep numbers in Australia have dramatically declined, and we supply 25 per cent of the world's wool," Mr Toland said.

"Drought has had an effect on numbers, and unfortunately, the quality is likely to be lower."

The Tolands keep about 3000 sheep on farm and have agisted another 800.

Mr Toland said in a normal year he would expect to get 125 to 130 bales of wool, but this year it would be more like 101.

He expects his wool, which would normally be 18.5 micron, to be much finer (thinner).

Neighbouring producer Colin Rankin from Earlston, near Violet Town, said most of the wool he'd clipped this season had been 17 micron; two microns finer than it usually is.

Seventeen micron wool was fetching 1425/kg clean (southern market) on January 31, according to the AWEX Fleece Micron Price Guide.

"If a sheep has been on a lesser diet, the hair naturally becomes thinner. It's what is called `hunger fine'," Mr Rankin said.

Both farmers have been supplementary feeding for months.

Mr Rankin expects to get 45 bales from his 2000 Merinos.

"They don't cut the weight and the staple length is less, but we're picking up more weight because of the dust," he said.

"We're getting more tender (breakable) wool than we would normally get."

Unfortunately dust is considered undesirable in overseas markets.

Mr Rankin said he believed the price rise was due to the nervousness of wool processors who were scrambling to ensure supplies for their mills, but he's not confident it's around to stay.

"We've seen this before in the last 12 years, especially this time of year, and each other time it has only lasted about six weeks," he said.

"I hope this does last, but there's no guarantee."

Despite his scepticism, Mr Rankin said the price rise was timely because the cost of feeding at the moment was enormous.

"We've spent nearly $50 000 in the past year just supplementary feeding," he said.

"We'll cover it with the wool, but the wool should be our major income."

nonie.stava@mcmedia.com.au