Wool campaign making strides
A group set up to boost education and promotion of wool says it has made positive strides during the first year of its three-year strategy.
The 5100 bales of South Island wools on offer this week through the Wool Services International auction saw strong competition and a 90.5% clearance.
The weaker NZ dollar compared to last sale on October 29 aided local prices, with the weighted currency indicator down 1.43%, says WSI marketing executive, Malcolm Ching.
Ching says the less stylish merino fleece compared to the last time offered on October 22 saw the 19.5 micron and finer wools up to 6% cheaper with 20 to 23.5 microns up to 3% firmer.
Mid micron fleece 24 to 26 microns was 1 to 4% dearer with 27 to 29.5 microns strongly contested, lifting 8%.
Compared to the North Island sale on October 29, fine crossbred fleece 32 to 35 microns was 3 to 6% dearer with shear types 1.5 to 5% dearer. Coarse full fleece was 4 to 5% stronger with 3 to 5 and 3 to 4 inch shears 1.5 to 3% firmer. Shorter types eased by 1.5%. Long oddments were 4 to 6% dearer with shorter types 1 to 5% dearer.
There was good competition with China and Western Europe supporting the fine wool sector, China dominating the fine crossbreds and Australasia strongly supporting the coarse wools. Limited support came from Western Europe, Middle East and India.
The next sale on November 12 comprises about 5100 bales from the North Island.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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