Wool Levy website launched

The website will also include an interactive section so that farmers can share their views on the levy and provide feedback to the Wool Levy Group. The website can be found at www.votewool.co.nz.

"The website will be a portal for information and includes important details on how to vote, the activities the wool levy will support and frequently asked questions. Farmers can also use it to voice their opinions or ask questions," said Sandra Faulkner, chair of the Wool Levy Group.

"The re-introduction of the wool levy is the result of four years of work by a pan sector group to find ways to improve the future of wool.

"Establishing a levy to be used to represent the industry was recommended by independent review and now grower support is needed to make it happen.

"The levy will support and complement work being done by existing organisations and will, where required, contract services from existing suppliers," says Faulkner. "Use of the ley will be efficient and effective and will be non-commercial and therefore will not compete with existing commercial businesses."

Voting papers for the Wool Producers Referendum will be sent out to farmers in mid-September and voting will take place on 10 October 2014.

Farmers will be asked to vote on a levy of between 2 and 5 cents for each kilogram of greasy or slipe wool at the first point of sale which will be used to fund industry good activities. This equates to $4.6 million based on 3 cents per kilogram for the 154,000 tonne of wool.

A positive grower vote, both by number and weighted sheep numbers, is required for the Wool Levy Referendum to be presented to the Ministry for Primary Industries before the Minister can enact the necessary regulations under the Commodities Levies Act 1990.