New industry body aims to unite and rebuild strong wool industry
A new levying body, currently with the working title of NZWool, has been proposed to secure the future of New Zealand's strong wool sector.
OPINION: Your canine crusader reckons that the people behind the Campaign for Wool are doing God's work in promoting the natural sheep fibre as sustainable, renewable and the next best thing since sliced bread.
There is no doubt they have a tough road to hoe as strong wool prices are now so low that it has become uneconomic for many crossbred wool producers to continue farming.
A mate of the Hound suggests that the Campaign for Wool has a daunting enough job without having an out-of-touch, gormless toff such as Prince Charles as the key figurehead for its programme.
Mind you, he reckons it could be a lot worse... just imagine it the Campaign had hired Chuck's disgraced younger brother, the hapless Prince "Handy Andy" Andrew as its patron!
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.

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