Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The 7000 bales of South Island wools on offer this week saw a slightly easier market overall with an 82% clearance, reports NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies lifted 0.21% to the downward pressure on local prices.
Dawson reports the northern European summer break and continuing pressure on China's internal economic situation is limiting the market at present as exporters cover for immediate shipment commitments only.
The fine and coarse end of the mid micron wools were firm to 2.5% dearer, with only the 26.5 to 27.5 types 1 to 3.5% cheaper. Fine crossbred full fleece were firm to 3% cheaper with shorter types firm to 2% easier.
Coarse crossbred full fleece and longer shears eased by 1% with the shorter types coming back 2 to 4%. A nominal offering of first lambs were firm to 4% cheaper.
Limited competition was spread mainly between China, Australasia and the Middle East with support from Western Europe, India and the United Kingdom.
The next sale on August 8 comprises about 5400 bales from the South Island.
Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.
According to Ravensdown's most recent Market Outlook report, a combination of geopolitical movements and volatile market responses are impacting the global fertiliser landscape.
Environment Canterbury, alongside industry partners and a group of farmers, is encouraging farmers to consider composting as an environmentally friendly alternative to offal pits.
A New Zealand dairy industry leader believes the free trade deal announced with India delivers wins for the sector.
The Coalition Government will need the support of at least one opposition party to ratify the free trade deal with India.

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