Centre stage for wool at Fieldays

If you had asked farmers the worth of having wool as a feature at the Fieldays a year ago, you would have got a very negative response.

Wools rise from the dead is impressive and has given all sheep farmers hope that their industry can become profitable at last.

Demand has been strong for all classes of store sheep, as farmers restock after last years disastrous spring and years of poor prices.

Understanding the value chain and how farmers can keep wool to these price levels will be important to revive and maintain the resurgence of this product.

Wool's comeback will be recognised at the National Agricultural Fieldays with the Primary Wool Co-operative the focus of the event's premier feature reports The Waikato Times.

The 900-strong farmer co-operative will showcase the way NZ's best wool is farmed and demonstrate how wool carpets are made and sold internationally to tie in with this year's Fieldays theme ''Breaking barriers to productivity''.

Te Kuiti sheep farmer and five times world champion shearer David Fagan welcomed the idea. ''I think it's brilliant,'' he said.''Wool's been on the back burner for a good number of years. It's a great opportunity to get it out there again. With the wool prices firming up, in the last couple of months, it's been very, very good.''

Fleece prices have doubled to $4 per kg in the past year, thanks to the shrinking national flock, and clean wool prices have passed the $7 per kg mark for the first time since decimal currency was introduced.

Waingaro sheep farmer Rory Sherlock was also pleased with  the profile wool would get at Fieldays as a result of the premiere feature billing.

''As farmers we have to stand up and be counted if we really want things to happen for us. It's important that farmers have an opportunity to rethink just exactly where we think we can go. What we need to do, as farmers, is make it happen for us.'' 

Primary Wool Co-operative chairman Bay de Lautour said the co-operative believed New Zealand was witnessing the beginnings of a major renewal of wool. The aim of the exhibit was to raise awareness of its use in carpets and rugs and remind farmers it was a high value product they needed to carefully farm, conserve quality and achieve top prices.

''The entire value chain for wool will be laid out in our exhibition, so that visitors will understand how the simple fibre we see ends up in some of the finest garments, textiles, homes and premises in the world, and is revered for its beauty".