Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The slightly easier New Zealand dollar and increased international demand combined to improve most wool prices this week, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's marketing manager, Paul Steel reports.
Of the 12,100 bales on offer 79% sold.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies dipped 1.2%, helping local price levels.
Steel advises recent lower market levels and slowly reducing stock levels in the manufacturing pipeline have helped stimulate recent buying with China beginning to lift their activity.
Fine mid micron fleece under 28 microns were firm to 3% easier with the coarser end 2 to 4% dearer.
Fine crossbred fleece gained 2 to 3.5% reflecting Chinese interests. Good style coarse crossbred fleece remained firm with average styles firm to 3% dearer.
Coarse shears were generally firm to 1.5% stronger except the 2 to 3 inch wools which lifted 3%.
A nominal offering of first lambs were firm to 1.5% dearer. Oddments came under strong competition lifting 6% for all categories.
Well spread competition with China, India and United Kingdom principals, supported by Western Europe, Australasia and the Middle East.
The next sale on September 6 comprises about 8500 bales from the North 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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