increase font size
Wool Services International (WSI) is helping NZ Merino and Landcorp with plans to develop branded products linked back to the farm, says WSI Purelana manager Malcolm Ching.
The Landcorp wool is still on the market, but it is not going to auction so it is not open to the whole trade, Ching told Rural News in answer to a question about reports that Landcorp is now directing all its wool clip through NZ Merino.
“It is being channelled through NZ Merino and directed mainly to ourselves and we are working with NZ Merino and Landcorp to try to develop branded and direct products where it is linked straight from farm all the way to the end user.
“So we’re working with NZ Merino and with some of our clients offshore to try to use the New Zealand model. I won’t say it’s [exactly] like Icebreaker or Little Perriam because we’re talking different fibres. You’re not in high fashion, you are in the product that is predominantly in carpeting.
“But there are clients out there who want to do branded carpet ranges and to do that you need to have a story that takes them all the way back to the blade of grass the sheep are eating.
“It takes a long time but you have to start somewhere. The way you start is to build a supply base committed to that type of scenario and be prepared to adjust either shearing patterns, preparation, even some of their breed mix if necessary, to tailor it to something you take further down the market end channel and hopefully attach some value to.”
They are dealing with more high-end established mills in Australia and Western Europe. It is early stages; they have been working on it for 12-18 months and it will probably take another three years, he says. By Landcorp coming direct to WSI, the price base is guaranteed to be the market price on the day, so Landcorp is not losing anything.
To mark International Day of Education on January 24, 2025, state farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) announced the commencement of its Apprenticeship Scheme, designed to equip the next generation of farmers with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed for a thriving career in agriculture.
OPINION: Landcorp is putting a brave face on its latest result, highlighting its progress on KPIs like climate change and gender pay gaps.
In a landmark move, the state-owned farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) is making four of its 44 dairy farms available for people wishing to take up various contracts including herd-owning, share milking, variable order share milking and contract milking.
Major steps are underway to improve the quality of dairy beef calves.
Tucked away in a remote part of the central North Island, staff at a Pāmu (Landcorp) farm are working hard to solve one of the biggest challenges facing the dairy and beef sectors.
Federated Farmers says the farming sector has been unable to effectively address quad bike safety.
A highly experienced agricultural scientist with specialist knowledge of the dairy sector is the Prime Minister's new Chief Science Advisor.
The 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year, Jo Sheridan, has paid tribute to women who apart from their farming connections are making contributions to their local schools and communities.
Limping towards the end of the season is how Richard Walker describes the situation he's facing due to prolonged drought in coastal areas of Taranaki.
Auckland Federated Farmers want a national conference debate on whether New Zealand should withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker says the industry-good organisation is proud to be an ongoing industry partner of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, providing judging expertise and facilitating field days.
