Wednesday, 19 July 2017 07:55

More wool needed for a brighter future – WNZ

Written by  Pam Tipa
Mark Shadbolt. Mark Shadbolt.

Greater sales volume is critical for Wools of NZ, says chair Mark Shadbolt.

The trademarked scouring process Glacier XT will be a more volume-focused business, he says.

“That will create lot more demand. It is creating a wool that is a lot whiter and brighter and is the sort innovation and technology we need to invest in to add value to the wool.

“We have had a lot of interest in the market for it because the brightness is the key aspect that the industry hadn’t been able to acquire until this technology became available.”

If there was a quick fix for the wool industry it would have been done, he says. Many initiatives have been tried, unsuccessfully.

“Our strategy is very long term: we’ve been at it four and a half years. I think it will take another five years to gain any real traction and influence a significant volume of the NZ wool clip.”

But to make a difference requires building relationships right out to the consumer, spending money and adopting new technology, he says.

“Trading wool as a commodity will never change the game. We have learned from 150 years of wool trading that [commodity trading] has never created real value back to the farmgate.

“But from a farming point of view – sheep and beef -- we have been getting $6/kg for beef and $6 for lamb; that is helping but I would like to see $6/kg for wool on a sustainable basis.

“That would keep growers on their wool production.”

More like this

Growers back wool merger

Woolgrowers have almost unanimously voted in favour of the proposed merger of Wools of NZ (WNZ) and Primary Wool Co-operative- owned CP Wool (CPW).

From meat to wool!

Former Beef+Lamb chair James Parsons has been elected as chair of Wools of New Zealand (WNZ).

Wools of NZ to offer more shares

Wools of New Zealand plans to offer more shares to growers who have been supporting the Wool Market Development Commitment (WMDC).

Featured

Pāmu farm opens gate to urban visitors

For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.

Afimilk appoints new general manager

Afimilk, a global dairy farm management solutions provider, has appointed Justin Miller as the new general manager for New Zealand and Australia.

National

Machinery & Products

Alpego eyes electric power harrow

Distributed by OriginAg in New Zealand, Italian manufacturer Alpego recently showed its three metre Alysium electric power harrow at the…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dodgy!

OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter