Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The market held up fairly well for the last of the larger offerings of this season with 22,700 bales on offer and an 84% clearance, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies compared to the last sale on March 15 was practically unchanged, strengthening only 0.06%.
The price levels between the North and South Island selling centres reflects the larger volumes coming forward in the north and although prices lifted considerably compared to their last sale on March 8, the North Island prices are still generally below their counterparts in the south.
Dawson advises that Fine Crossbred Fleece and Shears were firm to 2% stronger. Good Colour Crossbred Fleece eased slightly with other styles firm to 3% dearer. Longer Coarse Shears ranged from firm to 4% stronger, with shorter shears in the South easing 1 to 2% and the north offering firm to 4% dearer. South Island Lambs were 1 to 2% easier with the North Island selection 2 to 5% stronger.
Oddments ranged from firm to 3.5% dearer with the North Island levels lifting the most.
Well spread competition with China, Australasia, Middle East and India principals supported by Western Europe and United Kingdom.
Next sale on March 29 comprises about 10,900 bales of South Island wools only.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…