While voting was above the national average of 30.46pc reached on Wednesday night, only 2,177 SA producers had voted from 6947 eligible woolgrowers in the State.

South Australian Farmers' Federation (SAFF) wool representative Geoff Power said there had been widespread "apathy" among woolgrowers.

"There are also numbers of people who have left the industry during the past three years who would still have been entitled to vote," he said.

Mr Power said he was pleased with the increase in voting compared with the end of week four of the poll, when only 21.29pc of producers had voted.

But ultimately he would have liked to see more than 50pc of farmers vote.

"It's important and it would be nice if more would come out and have their say," he said.

"The main thing is to vote and have your say on what you invest into your industry."

Results from this year's voting were set to determine AWI funding from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2013.

Woolgrowers who had paid wool levies of $100 or more during the past three financial years were eligible to vote.

Farmers could vote for one of five levy rate options: 0pc, 1pc, 2pc - the existing rate - 2.5pc or 3pc.

WoolPoll is held every three-years. Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders president Tom Ashby, North Ashrose, Gulnare, has encouraged producers to vote for a 2pc levy.

"I think 2pc would be a good result for the industry - at this level they would have enough income to do their marketing and research," he said.

"The AWI board have modules in place to deal with any increase or decrease on the levy."

Mr Ashby said a lot of growers tended to sit back and not have their say.

"It's been a very poor vote this time, a very poor turnout, but I think in the last week we'll see some better results," he said.

"I think a lot of people, especially small woolgrowers and prime lamb breeders, think they just won't make a difference.

"What we're trying to say is that everyone's vote makes a difference and we want everyone to vote."

Votes will be counted next week and announced at the AWI annual general meeting on November 27.

* Details: www.woolpoll.com.au