Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The 7400 bales on offer in the North Island today saw strong demand due to the lack of wool as a result of drought and in particular in the South Island wet weather conditions delaying shearing.
New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager John Dawson says the weighted indicator to the main currencies is unchanged compared to last South Island wool sale.
A reasonable offering of fine crossbred early shorn and second shear 3 to 5 inch and 3 to 4 inch wool of 35 and 36 micron were fully 4% dearer, whilst the shorter 2 to 4 and 2 to 3 inch were only 1% dearer.
Coarse crossbred fleece was 3 to 4% dearer. Coarse crossbred early shorn and second shear 3 to 5 and 3 to 4 inch were fully 3 to 4% dearer, with the shorter 2 to 4 and 2 to 3 inch 1% dearer.
A limited offering of lambs' wool was 2.5% dearer. Combing oddments which were of limited offering were 5% dearer, whilst a good selection of clothing oddments were firm.
Strong competition with China, Australasia Carpet Mills, Europe and the Indian continent.
The next sale on June 27 comprises about 13,000 bales from the North Island and 9500 bales from the South Island.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced a new equity partnership in an effort to support pathways to farm ownership for livestock farm operators.
Following a recent overweight incursion that saw a Mid-Canterbury contractor cop a $12,150 fine, the rural contracting industry is calling time on what they consider to be outdated and unworkable regulations regarding weight and dimensions that they say are impeding their businesses.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
A landmark New Zealand trial has confirmed what many farmers have long suspected - that strategic spring nitrogen use not only boosts pasture growth but delivers measurable gains in lamb growth and ewe condition.
It was recently announced that former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has stepped down of New Zealand Pork after seven years. Leo Argent talks with Eric about his time at the organisation and what the future may hold.
It's critical that the horticulture sector works together as part of a goal to double the sector’s exports by 2035.
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.
OPINION: One particular bone the Hound has been gnawing on for years now is how the chattering classes want it…