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.
The combined North and South Island auction offering of 24,400 bales saw a 91% clearance and a firm to dearer market across the board, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was practically unchanged compared to the last sale on February 28, firming by 0.23%.
Dawson advises the fine crossbred fleece was generally slightly dearer with the shear types firm to 2% stronger.
Coarse crossbred fleece were firm to 6% stronger with the average and better style wools lifting the most. The coarse shears were firm to 3% stronger.
First lambs were also firm to 3% dearer. Oddments were 1.5 to 7% stronger with North Island wools gaining the most.
Limited competition with China dominated, supported by Australasia, Western Europe, India, Middle East and United Kingdom.
The next sale on March 14 comprises about 9,500 bales from the South Island.
Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).

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