Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The North and South Island Wool auction comprising 26,000 bales saw a firm to dearer market with a 90.3% clearance, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's marketing executive, Malcolm Ching says.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies compared to the last sale on March 1 dropped by 1.86 %, underpinning prices for one of the season's largest single day offerings.
Ching advises Fine Crossbred Fleece and Shears ranged from firm to 5% dearer, supported by steady Chinese interest.
Coarse Crossbred Fleece was 1 to 3% stronger with Coarse Shears firm to 3% dearer. First Lambs were firm to 2% dearer, except some of the shorter types in the South Island which eased up to 1%. Oddments ranged from firm to 4% stronger.
Good competition was reported with China, Australasia and Middle East principal buyers, supported by Western Europe, United Kingdom and India.
The next sale on March 15 comprises about 7300 bales from the South Island.
Former Fonterra executive Alex Turnbull has been appointed CEO to lead all five Yili Oceania Business Division companies in New Zealand.
Fonterra executive René Dedoncker is leaving the co-operative later this year to lead Australian agribusiness Elders.
Alliance Group and the Southland Stags rugby team have joined forces in a partnership that will see the the meat co-operative's farmgate brand feature on players' team kits and replica jerseys.
Fonterra's plan to expand its organic programme to the South Island is being well received by farmers, the co-op says.
Voting has started for the renewal of DairyNZ's milksolids levy.
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