There are 10 candidates standing for five vacant board positions, and the two tickets running for the seats have divided the industry in recent weeks.

On the one hand are the incumbent directors, or the "chairman's ticket" as they have described themselves, made up of AWI chairman Brian van Rooyen, Chris Abell, John Keniry, Robyn Clubb and Ken Boundy.

They are up against a loose group of five candidates, which are being backed by the Australian Wool Growers' Association.

They are noted international wool processor Laurence Modiano, Meredith Sheil, George Falkiner, Will Roberts and David Webster.

At the heart of the division in the industry is the dismal price of wool and the marketing strategy AWI has been employing, as well AWI's commitment to phase out mulesing by 2010.

If two of the challengers are successful they will join current board members Roger Fletcher, Wal Merriman and Chick Olsson who are also opposed to the 2010 mulesing deadline.

This will give the faction control of the nine-member board and the potential to change the direction of the industry.

According to a poll run on FarmOnline recently, it is likely that Mr Modiano, Mr Falkiner and Dr Shiel will be elected.

The campaign from both camps has brought out bitter in-fighting from producers across the country.

Uniting the industry will be a tough task for the new board, especially if voters deliver a board split between two opposing camps.

* More reports and results from the AWI board elections will be posted on FarmOnline as soon as they are available later this afternoon.