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 7250 bales of North Island wool on offer saw a 72% clearance with most types easing further.
NZ Wool Services International Ltd’s marketing executive Malcolm Ching reports that some good colour types resisted this trend as buyers continue very focused buying with targeted better style wools getting more support.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was 0.64% lower than last week’s sale, having minimal positive impact.
Ching advises that subdued demand and continued uncertainty around new market interest in coming weeks, is restricting buying activity.
Compared to the last similar North Island selection on November 10: Good colour fine crossbred fleece were 1 to 2% dearer with average/poor styles 3 to 7% cheaper. Good colour fine crossbred shears 3 / 5 and 3 / 4 inches were 2.5 to 5.5%t easier with 2 / 4 and 2 / 3 inches firm to 5% dearer. All poorer style fine crossbred shears were 3.5 to 7% cheaper.
Good colour coarse crossbred fleece were firm with poorer styles 7 to 8% cheaper. Coarse shears 3 / 5 to 2 / 4 inches were 1 to 5% cheaper with 2 / 3 inches 1.5% dearer.
Short oddments ranged from 7 to 13% cheaper.
Competition was limited with Australasia, Western Europe and China principals, supported by Middle East, India and the United Kingdom.
Next sale on December 1 comprises about 4550 bales from the South Island.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.

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