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.
New Zealand Wool Services International CEO John Dawson says the strengthened New Zealand dollar has negatively impacted at this week's South Island sale with most types easing in local terms.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies has lifted 2.97 percent compared to the last North Island sale on 1st October and 4.67 percent against the previous South Island sale.
Of the 8,423 bales on offer 75.4 percent sold.
Dawson reports that compared to the South Island sale on 24th September, Merino Fleece 17 to 23.5 microns were 2 to 6 percent cheaper in-line with currency movements and high seasonal volumes.
Mid Micron Fleece 24 to 27 microns were 2 to 4 percent cheaper with 28 to 30.5 microns down 7 to 9 percent.
Compared to the North Island sale on 1st October, Fine Crossbred Full Fleece 31.5 and 32 microns were 3 to 4 percent dearer with 32.5 and 33 microns up to 9.5 percent dearer as limited volumes pressured this segment. Fine Crossbred Second Shears 32 to 35 microns were generally 1.5 to 5 percent cheaper with shorter types under continued pressure.
Coarse Crossbred Fleece were up to 1 percent easier.
Coarse Second Shears were 1.5 to 2.5 percent cheaper.
Short Oddments were down 1.5 to 3.5 percent.
Well spread interest with Western Europe and China dominating the Fine Wool sector with Australasia and China strong on the fine and coarse crossbred wools, supported by Middle East, United Kingdom and India sparingly.
Next sale on 15th October comprises approximately 5,000 bales down 30 percent on anticipated roster volumes.
New Zealand dairy farmers are set to be the first in the world to receive access to a new digital physical milk pricing tool that enables them to fix the price for their physical milk.
State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.
A five-year study has found that the cost of reducing emissions without technology may be significant and unsustainable for Northland dairy farmers.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.
While the Government has moved quickly to make commercial hauliers' lot easier during the current fuel crisis, they appear to be stuck in the creep box when it comes to the agricultural industry.
Waikato farmers have been told that the Government’s new planning system legislation and the region’s Plan Change 1 (PC1) “won’t mesh together very well”.

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