Farmers reject wool levy idea

There appears little farmer support for M&WNZ to levy crossbred wool growers to promote the fibre. Chair Mike Petersen said farmer reaction at the first of the organisation's referendum road shows this week was quite strong they did not want the producer board funding promotion reports The ODT. Mr Petersen said the message was clear that should be the role of commercial companies, which should provide marketing and promotion by levying those that supplied them wool. "The best way for farmers to pay a marketing fee was to the company with whom they are transacting, such as happens with New Zealand Merino. But the trouble is we are seeing few commercial initiatives in that direction." He said there was widespread concern about the perilous financial state of the wool industry and the slow speed with which it was reorganising itself. Comment had also been passed at how Elders Primary Wool and Wool Partners International were following separate paths, but with a similar strategy of linking wool users to growers through contracted supply. But the prevailing view was that Meat and Wool's role should be in training shearers and woolhandlers, securing market access, representing the sectoron some farm wool research, though not generic promotion and marketing. Close to 2500 crossbred sheep farmers attended meetings to hear Wool Partners International's plans to resurrect the fortunes of wool. Chief executive Iain Abercrombie said the message he received was that farmers had two years to see change before the industry was considered "stuffed".