Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
		  	
		  
		  		  
		  A versatile and stylish South Island selection on offer this week saw most types well supported, despite a slightly firmer NZ dollar.
		  
		  
		  
	  A versatile and stylish South Island selection on offer this week saw most types well supported, despite a slightly firmer NZ dollar, says NZ Wool Services International's chief executive John Dawson.
Compared to the last sale on November 26 the indicator for the main trading currencies was up 1.05% only having minimal impact in some quarters.
Dawson advises that compared to the last time sold on November 19, merino fleece 20.5 microns and finer were firm to 1.5% easier with 21 to 23.5 microns 1 to 3% dearer.
Mid micron fleece 24 to 29.5 microns were 1% dearer.
Compared to the sale on November 26;
Fine crossbred full fleece 32 and 33 microns were up to 5% cheaper with 34 and 35 microns 1% dearer. Fine crossbred shears were firm to 2.5% cheaper.
Coarse crossbred full fleece 36 microns and coarser were firm to 1% firmer.
All shear types remained firm.
Good colour short oddments were firm to 3% dearer.
There was well spread interest with China and Australasia dominating, supported by Western Europe, Middle East, United Kingdom and India sparingly.
The next sale on December 10 comprises about 9,200 bales in the North Island, including the wools from this week's cancelled sale.
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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