Agriculture Minister David Carter launched Wool Group last week and already the united voice for the industry is paying off.
The ODT reports:
After the various wool industry factions and parties agreed late last week to end hostilities, they asked the newly-formed Wool Group to back a funding application to the Foundation for Research Science and Technology for four research projects.
The man responsible for uniting the industry behind the new Wool Group banner, Murray Horn, said such a request would not have been possible a few weeks ago because funders required industry unity before considering such applications.
The Wool Group consists of 17 representatives including farmers, brokers, agents, exporters, users and processors.
This is an industry good initiative which became necessary after farmers voted to stop paying wool levies to what was Meat & Wool NZ. It’s been replaced by Beef and Lamb NZ and its chair Mike Petersen has been invited to join the group.
That’s a sensible move. Anything which helps improve returns for wool will be good for the sheep industry as a whole.
Some people may be unhappy that Wool Group won’t be involved in commercial initiatives but those are best left to individual businesses so there is no risk of being accused of anti-competitive behaviour on world markets.
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Homepaddock 