Editorial: Wool's Back in the Black
OPINION: Confidence in the wool sector is rebounding as prices hit levels not seen in more than 15 years.
The North and South Island Wool auction comprising 26,000 bales saw a firm to dearer market with a 90.3% clearance, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's marketing executive, Malcolm Ching says.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies compared to the last sale on March 1 dropped by 1.86 %, underpinning prices for one of the season's largest single day offerings.
Ching advises Fine Crossbred Fleece and Shears ranged from firm to 5% dearer, supported by steady Chinese interest.
Coarse Crossbred Fleece was 1 to 3% stronger with Coarse Shears firm to 3% dearer. First Lambs were firm to 2% dearer, except some of the shorter types in the South Island which eased up to 1%. Oddments ranged from firm to 4% stronger.
Good competition was reported with China, Australasia and Middle East principal buyers, supported by Western Europe, United Kingdom and India.
The next sale on March 15 comprises about 7300 bales from the South Island.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.

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