Wool Levy can optimise industry

Rowland Smith of Hawke's Bay, on his way to claiming the Golden Shears Open title at the Golden Shears competition in Masterton's War Memorial Stadium.

Wool may sometimes seem like the forgotten industry amongst all the discussion around meat industry reform and decades of fluctuating prices.

Nevertheless, it remains an important leg on the three-legged stool of a sheep and beef farm's income: sheep meat, beef and wool.

The strong (coarse) wool industry alone is worth $700 million at the farm gate each year, which can hardly be scoffed at. Yet wool remains the only sector represented by the Ministry for Primary Industries which doesn't have a representative body.

The wool levy review group was formed following last year's Beef + Lamb AGM and has set about to change this.

The group is made up of representatives from across the wool industry and they put together a business case outlining a proposal for collective grower investment.

It was outlined for the role of any future industry-good organisation to include: providing strategic overview; being a point of initial contact for pan-industry information; providing a sounding board for government bodies, which is important in order for the industry to retain respect and influence; assisting with trade policy and negotiation; promoting research and development opportunities; and providing funding for international marketing initiatives.

The initial business case was presented to growers in the form of a farmer remit at the Beef + Lamb AGM on March 14. The proposal to use the remaining wool levies to prepare a business case and referendum proposal for a new wool levy received the support of 68 per cent of sheep farmers based on weighted stock numbers.

They now require the support of the Beef + Lamb board and if this is received, they will continue work to get everything in place for a referendum later this year.

Another successful Golden Shears competition was held in Masterton recently. Golden Shears is the world's premier shearing and woolhandling championship and is a fantastic global showcase of the incredible talent and athleticism that is required to harvest and class wool.

It provides worthy recognition for all of those who have spent years perfecting the art and a chance to celebrate the amazing talent we have in the wool industry in New Zealand.

Campaign for Wool and the International Wool and Textile Organisation (IWTO) held two meetings for members of the wool industry.

Attendees were addressed by Peter Ackroyd the President of IWTO and Chief Operating Officer of the Campaign for Wool, as well as Ian Hartley, the Chief Executive of the British Wool Marketing Board.

They highlighted the gains that have been made regarding perception of wool around the world, along with the development of recognised global procedures and coordinated standards.

The formation of the Campaign for Wool New Zealand Trust was also announced at the meetings. This separates the governance and funding of the Campaign for Wool from the National Council of Wool Interests.

One of the most recent woollen products to surface are Wool Runners. They are a woollen running shoe made from a specially developed fabric using mid micron wool.

The woollen fabric is designed to be strong enough to maintain the strength and structure of the shoe upper, with the comfort and abrasion resistance it can be worn without socks. It is the brainchild of Kiwi brothers Tim and Paul Brown.

After just five days on the Kickstart crowd-funding website, the project was 395 per cent funded, a great indication of the support. Another fantastic example of the innovation that is possible from this great natural fibre, building on its many functional characteristics.