FONTERRA’S ACQUISITION of South Canterbury processor NZDL was last week (as Dairy News went to press) still far from a done deal, awaiting Commerce Commission clearance and confirmation that suppliers are on board.

Fonterra confirmed it has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire the milk processing assets of the New Zealand Dairies Ltd group in South Canterbury.

This week's North Island offering comprising 9,600 bales saw most sectors ease again except the finer lambs fleece, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson says.

ONE OF the bigger bits of kit at South Island Field Days was the Pottinger Jumbo 6010 self loading wagon on the Origin Agroup stand and owned by McStay Contracting of Woodlands.

The Euro zone crisis, New Zealand dollar and Chinese New Year have been hitting wool prices, which before last week’s auctions had dropped about 12% since October.