Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The 7800 bales of North Island wool on offer this week saw a 92% clearance with a firm market for the finer crossbred wools and lower levels for the coarser sector, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's marketing executive Paul Steel says.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was 1.63% stronger than the last sale on December 6 which accounted for the lower levels, however in foreign currency terms the market was generally very firm.
Continued demand for quick shipment from the Chinese market kept the finer types under steady pressure, with the seasonally higher volumes of coarser types due on the market and stronger currency combining to impact on this sector.
Steel advises fine crossbred fleece and longer shears were firm with shorter types 1% to 2% easier. Full length coarse crossbred fleece was firm to 1.5% softer.
Coarse Shears were generally 1 to 2.5% cheaper with the shorter end affected the most.
Long oddments came under solid demand, lifting up to 4%. The shorter types ranged from 1.5 to 4% cheaper.
China was the principal, supported by India, Western Europe, United Kingdom and Australasia.
The next sale on Wednesday, December 19 comprises about 8200 bales from the North Island and 9800 bales from the South Island.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.

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