Farmers may end up paying a training fee to get their sheep shorn, under a proposal that the shearing industry is discussing.
A decision by sheep farmers last year to end a wool levy paid to Meat & Wool New Zealand also ended a contribution they were making towards the cost of shearing and wool handling courses.
Shearing Contractors Federation president Barry Pullen says a user-pays approach to fill the gap is being considered. It could involve a fee of 1 cent per head included in shearing charges.
He says shearing and wool handling trainees would also contribute to training costs.
