Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
Continued shipping pressure for China kept finer crossbreds firm at the latest wool auction however coarse wools eased as volumes available increased, says Paul Steel of NZWSI.
The weighted indicator remained unchanged compared to the last sale on May 21. Of the 8,900 bales on offer, 94% sold.
Steel says that fine crossbred longer shears remained firm with shorter types lifting between 2% and 6%. Good colour coarse fleece were firm to 1.5% easier, average style firm and poor colour 2.5% to 5.5% dearer.
Long coarse shears were firm to 3.5% cheaper with shorter types down 4% to 6%.
Long lambs fleece were 3.5% dearer, 2 to 4 inches up 1% to 2% with shorter types firm to 4% cheaper. Long oddments were 4% to 7% dearer with good colour short oddments 4% dearer and poor colour 3% to 6% easier.
Good competition with China continues to dominate, supported by Australasia, India, Middle East and Western Europe.
The next sale on June 4 comprises about 7,100 bales from the South Island.
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.

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