Editorial: Wool's Back in the Black
OPINION: Confidence in the wool sector is rebounding as prices hit levels not seen in more than 15 years.
The New Zealand Merino Company has posted a net profit of $1.9 million for year ending June 2014. A dividend of $950,000 has been declared.
Company chairman Ruth Richardson attributes the positive result to NZM's innovative model.
"This is a result NZM can be proud of. It highlights that our market-focused model is setting a standard that is distinctively different to any other offering.
"Our customers and shareholders can be confident that we are delivering value through our single-minded focus to have the highest standards in production, ethical standards, servicing our markets and creating customer delight".
"Through this model we have delivered major value add to growers and market partners alike".
Richardson says the board has set ambitious goals to double the value of the company in the next three years.
Chief executive John Brakenridge says the result reflected the strong partnerships and a model that continues to deliver.
"In the last 16 years we have built several key and lasting market partnerships and this year have delivered a profit after tax return of 22% on average shareholders' funds," he says.
"The success of the Merino and Mid Micron model has given us confidence to build a presence in the adjacent strong wool market."
Brakenridge also commented on the talent of the NZM team.
"We have attracted a team of capable, passionate people who have a diverse base of skills who are recognised for their leadership from wool expertise, through to market development, sales and marketing, creative, textile science, production science and environmental science and are helping us to achieve our vision".
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.

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