Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The latest wool auction of 4,700 bales from the North Island saw mixed price movements with a generally steady market overall.
New Zealand Wool Services International general manager, John Dawson says that despite dramatic currency movements in some sectors, the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies eased only 1.53%, having limited impact on local prices.
He says that hand to mouth customer buying activity and limited seasonal wool volumes combined with current exporter shipping requirements, underpins the market presently.
Fine Crossbred Full Fleece and shorter shears were firm to 2.5% easier with longer shears up to 2% dearer.
Good style full Crossbred Fleece were 1% easier, average 1% firmer and poor firm to 1% cheaper.
Coarse Shears were firm to 2% easier with shorter types affected the most.
Long Lambs Fleece were firm to 1% dearer, with shorter types 1 to 3% cheaper. Long Oddments lifted by up to 3% with good colour
Short Oddments 1 to 2% easier and poor styles firm.
The auction saw limited activity with China principal, supported by Australasia, India, Middle East and Western Europe.
The next sale on May 7 comprises about 6700 bales from the South Island, down 32% on anticipated rostered quantities.
The Coalition Government will need the support of at least one opposition party to ratify the free trade deal with India.
Primary sector leaders have welcomed the announcement of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand.
At Pāmu’s Kepler Farm in Manapouri, mating has wrapped up at the across-breed Beef Progeny Test.
More than 150 people turned up at Parliament recently to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ).
Biosecurity New Zealand says Kiwis should continue to keep an eye out for yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) over the holiday season.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.

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