Voting for the wool levy referendum has opened, voting papers having been sent to all New Zealand sheep farmers.
The levy will be 2.75c per kg on the average 5.4kg produced per sheep per year, which equated to 14.85c per sheep, meaning the cost for a farmer with 2000 sheep would be $297 per annum.
The referendum will run for a month, with voting closing on October 10.
Wool Levy Group chairwoman Sandra Faulkner said the lack of an industry body had prevented producers from maximising their returns.
