No.8 Wire: Alpaca wool being dyed with olive pulp

Northern Ireland shearer Jack Robinson, here while making his way through the grades working in Hawke's Bay five years ago, is now a fully fledged Open gun. Photo / File

Colour concept

A Queensland farmer has found a novel way to merge the strengths of the alpacas and olives produced on her property west of Mooloolaba.

Alexina Johnson, of Obi Obi Valley, is using the pulp from her olive oil production to "naturally" colour the white wool produced by her flock, the ABC reports.

She says the alpaca industry has focused on the best of its wool being white, for spinning and making cloth.

However, having the white base was just the start of "where it's all at".

"There is now a recognition of coloured alpacas, particularly black, and natural colours that people are so interested in," she said.

"I really enjoy the opportunity to combine my different streams of business, and it was a challenge to use olive pulp and turn it into a dye for the white wool."

Prize bacon

Entries are now open for the 100% New Zealand Bacon and Ham Competition.

The competition attracts butchers and retailers nationwide, who will put their skills to the test on July 10 to find the tastiest rashers and most succulent hams.

It supports New Zealand's pig farmers, who raise pork solely for the local market.

This year a new category, Innovation, has been introduced and all entries will be judged on the commercial viability of the product, whether the product is logical in its production, its appeal to the marketplace, practicality for cooking and serving and the innovation factor.

There are five bacon categories, Middle, Dry Cured Middle, Shoulder, Streaky, Middle Eye and two ham categories, Bone-In-Ham and Boneless Ham, and entries close on June 19.

Robinson fires

Young Northern Ireland shearer Jack Robinson, who spent two seasons as a teenager learning his shearing in Hawke's Bay, has continued his good start in the UK competition season by winning the Royal Ulster Open title at the Balmoral Show, and the Connacht Shears.

As he had in the UK's opening competition of the season at Donard, he beat lambshearing eight-hour recordholder Ivan Scott in both events.

His only defeat was to Scott in the Balmoral Show's All-Nations final.

In that event former Hawke's Bay shearer Matthew Smith, now based in Cornwall, was third.

Ballance roles

Jodi Tong has been appointed general manager customer experience and marketing, Ballance Agri-Nutrients has announced.

Edith Sykes has also been appointed general manager people and capability, a promotion from her former role as human resources manager.