Quality shearing and wool handling critical to high quality wool
Quality shearing and wool handling is critical to delivering high quality wool to customers and maximising the value of this wool. Wool Impact is working to help increase the availability and accessibility of wool harvesting training to grow and improve the capability of the workforce to support this. A big part of enabling this is establishing a pathway to enduring funding through the formalisation of the existing training.
Wool Impact has been working with Muka Tangata (workforce development council for food and fibre), representative groups (Shearing Contractors Association and Wool Classers Association) and wool harvesting industry representatives (contractors, training providers) on what is needed to access enduring government funding for training. A large part of this is having the qualifications standards in place and fit for purpose for shearing and wool handling. Wool Impact’s work has supported Muka Tangata to approve a project for the development of four new micro-credentials for wool harvesting. Wool Impact will continue to have an active role through a steering group and has been speaking with key people from the industry to make sure they engage in the process. https://mukatangata.nz/development-of-wool-harvesting-micro-credentials-2023/
Following a recent trip to China, industry leader and Woolworks president Nigel Hales has acknowledged an increase in demand for New Zealand strong wool however the Chinese openly noted that the clip preparation had deteriorated to an extent that it could hinder demand.
Wool Impact supports Hales’ call out to the industry and encourages growers to look at their processes for wool preparation and review what’s happening in the shed. Read the full article here.