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.
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Auckland’s Mt Roskill suburb, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.

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