Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
PRIMARY WOOL Cooperative's profit of $1.9m for the 2013 financial year is the largest in the cooperative's 39-history, says chairman, Bay de Lautour.
An average of two members per week joined the cooperative in 2013, growing to three members per week in the first four months of the 2014 financial year, de Lautour says.
The 2013 profit represents 71c a share and comes from Primary Wool Cooperative's 50% share of Elders Primary Wool which de Lautour says has gained market share as farmers see the benefits of their wool being handled by an efficient broker and seeing half the profits returned to the 100% farmer owned cooperative.
Consistent rewards to members include a 5% dividend in 2012, a 10% dividend in 2013, the annual 3c/kg rebate and new high quality woolpacks at a significant discount, have clearly struck a chord with farmers.
The cooperative has sourced about 75,000 new wool packs and sells them to farmers at $4 each, less than the market rate for second-hand packs. "This is a reward to members and also a way of improving the presentation of the wool clip."
Primary Wool Cooperative supports industry-good programmes and is a significant funder of the Campaign for Wool in New Zealand. The cooperative will increase its spending on promotion and industry-good as its equity position continues to strengthen, de Lautour says.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…