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.
Westpac NZ has announced new initiatives that aim to give customers more options to do their banking in person.
New Zealand red meat exports experienced a 29% increase year-on-year in September, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
BNZ says its new initiative, helping make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier, is being well received by customers and rural professionals.
The head of Fonterra's R&D facility in Palmerston North is set to literally cross the road and become the new vice chancellor at Massey University.
Allan Freeth, chief executive of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced he is resigning.

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