South Canterbury merino farmers Barrie and Yvonne Payne have received an award recognising the quality of wool their farm produces.
The Record Bale Award was created by the world's biggest buyer of fine wools, Italian company Loro Piana.
The Paynes run more than 3,000 merino on their 177-hectare station Visulea, and have won or tied for the prize for the last four years.
They received the award for a bale of 11.8 micron wool at a gala dinner in Beijing on Thursday.
However, they were beaten to the larger prize in the Wool Record Challenge by Australian growers who have won it for the last six years.
