Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
Comparative market reporting based on the radically disparate volumes and types on offer between alternate weeks offerings of North and South Island wools is becoming increasingly difficult, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.
There are wide price ranges between the selling centres, he says
Compared to the last sale on June 14 the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies is up 2.29% accounting for most of the softer market week last week with 65% of the offering selling.
Dawson reports that last week's South Island offering compared to the week before's North Island sale was generally firm to 4% easier. Longer Fine Crossbred Shears were firm to 3% softer with the shorter types resisting the trends and firming up to 4%.
Coarse Crossbred Fleece was also firm to 4% down. Coarse Shears 2/4 and longer ranged from 2 to 5% easier with the shorter types 1.5% dearer.
First Lambs were 2 to 5% down. Coarse Oddments were 3 to 4% cheaper.
When compared to the previous South Island offering on June 7, levels range from firm to 6% cheaper, however the price wool is trading at internationally is relative to the North Island market movement and currency impact.
Limited competition with China, United Kingdom and Western Europe principals, supported by India, Middle East and Australasia.
Next sale on June 28 comprises about 13,600 bales from the North Island and 6,200 bales from the South Island.
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.

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