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Federated Farmers meat and wool chair, Richard Dawkins
Will a stronger, more coordinated voice help rebuild confidence and improve returns in the wool sector?
That’s the question from sheep farmers in response to a new sector-led body focused on growing the value of New Zealand wool.
Last week it was announced that Wool Impact and Campaign for Wool NZ have formally merged to form the New Zealand Wool Collective.
Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Richard Dawkins told Rural News that farmers welcome the establishment of the New Zealand Wool Collective.
“New Zealand’s domestic wool industry has shrunk considerably, so consolidating effort and capability is a positive and logical step,” he says.
“For farmers, the important thing now is whether that stronger, more coordinated voice can help rebuild confidence in wool and improve returns over time.”
NZ Wool Collective chief executive Ross McIsaac says the merger builds on two years of partnership between the organisations, aligning their work, expertise and resources.
“New Zealand wool has value that isn’t being fully realised, and capturing more of that for wool growers will require collective effort alongside the work of individual businesses.
“A number of wool organisations and businesses are doing valuable work to support the sector, and that’s helped to create a strong foundation. Many in the sector have said the lack of one focused wool sector organisation and voice has been a frustration and this merger addresses that.”
Campaign for Wool NZ chair Ryan Cosgrove says the merger secures their work.
“It’s exciting to reach this milestone. We are confident that combining the work and capability of the two organisations will create the focus and efficiencies needed to modernise the wool sector.”
Wool Impact chair Stuart Heal says the merge makes sense.
“Wool needs more coordinated effort to create demand and value across sector good and commercial entities and this supports that.”
NZ Wool Collective will need additional funding and is in discussions with Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand and B+LNZ to secure the long term financial backing needed to realise value for growers, industry participants and the wider wool sector will continue.
A funding model is being developed in consultation with growers and industry.
Sheep farmers facing lower wool prices for over a decade have been given a reprieve in recent months.
Strong wool prices are sitting over $5/kg clean, higher than at any other point in the past decade and up 55% year-on-year. However, prices have come down from their highs of May and June this year.
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Will a stronger, more coordinated voice help rebuild confidence and improve returns in the wool sector?
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