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 first South Island sale for the 2013/14 season saw small movements each way, but an overall firm market with an 89% clearance of the 8100 bales on offer, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's marketing executive, Paul Steel says.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies compared to the last sale on July 11 was practically unchanged, easing by only 0.33%.
Steel advises the mid micron fleece compared to last time sold on June were 27 1 to 3.5% cheaper in line with easing markets elsewhere. Fine crossbred fleece and long shears compared to the sale on July 11 were generally firm.
Shorter shears were firm to 2% dearer.
Coarse crossbred fleece, where comparable were generally firm to buyers favour. Longer coarse shears were up to 2% cheaper with shorter types 1 to 2% dearer.
Long First Lambs were 5 to 8% stronger with shorter types ranging from 1 to 5% dearer. All oddments were 1 to 2% easier.
There was competition with China, Western Europe and the Middle East principal, supported by India, Australasia, United Kingdom and Asia.
The next sale on July 25 comprises about 6800 bales from the North Island and 6300 bales from the South Island.
Testing confirms H5 bird flu in a single northern giant petrel, found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa, says Dr Mary van Andel, the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Chief Veterinary Officer.
"What's for dinner?" may sound like a simple question, but for many Kiwi parents, answering it has become a job in itself.
Fifty Eight years ago, on the 16th of August 1968, August Claas, the founder of the harvesting company and father of Helmut Claas, personally presented a Claas Senator combine harvester to Scottish farmer John Steven.
New Zealand consumers are paying more for beef mince than ever before, with the average retail price now sitting above $24 per kilogram, according to Rabobank.
State farmer Pamu has delivered its strongest operating result on record.
Four years since it was first detected in New Zealand, researchers and growers now know much more about management of maize pest fall armyworm (FAW).

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