Editorial: United strategy for wool
OPINION: Wool farmers believe the future of strong wool still holds promise.
Former Beef+Lamb chair James Parsons has been elected as chair of Wools of New Zealand (WNZ).
Parsons – is a beef and sheep farmer located in Northland and well known for his past chairmanship of Beef & Lamb NZ and The New Zealand Meat Board. He joined the WNZ Board in November 2019 after being elected by growers at the 2019 AGM.
Interim chair Rebecca Smith created the vacancy when she stepped down from her role of chair but remains as a director.
“Strong wool prices have been through a period of decline for the last two decades and COVID-19 has seen prices crash to an all-time low,” Parsons says. “Yet, WNZ research shows that the price that the consumer pays has not changed, and woolen products are still considered premium products by many.”
He says the current state of the industry is unsustainable at current price levels.
“WNZ is well placed with international representatives and strong partnerships in market.”
The board of Wools New Zealand comprises James Parsons as chair, Craig Hickson, Ian Marshall and Rebecca Smith. Directors who have vacated their positions this year include Mark Shadbolt and Lucy Griffiths.
Visiting US climate change expert Dr Will Happer says the idea of reducing cow numbers to greatly reduce methane emissions is crazy.
Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for "The Twelve Pests of Christmas" in an effort to highlight the most troublesome farm pests.
The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has given farmers in the Tararua District a boost as they rebuild following recent storms.
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.

OPINION: Your old mate welcomes the proposed changes to local government but notes it drew responses that ranged from the reasonable…
OPINION: A press release from the oxygen thieves running the hot air symposium on climate change, known as COP30, grabbed your…