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.
DESPITE A STRENGTHENING NZ dollar and a larger weekly offering of wool, the market was generally firm to dearer, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.
Only lambs' fleece eased slightly and of the 20,000 bales on offer, 88% sold with growers not accepting current market levels for the balance.
Compared to the last South Island sale on February 27 the currency indicator was 1.15% higher but had minimal impact with demand and shipping requirements being the main market driver.
Dawson says fine crossbred fleece and shears were firm to 2% dearer. Coarse crossbred full fleece and shears were also firm to 2% dearer.
First lambs were firm to 2% cheaper. Oddments were firm to 2.5% stronger.
There was good competition with Australasia, Western Europe, United Kingdom and India principal, supported by China and the Middle East.
The next sale on March 13 comprises about 6600 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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