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 LIMITED offering of 6000 bales of South Island wool on offer saw a 90% clearance with most types increasing 2 to 4%, New Zealand Wool Services International 's general manager John Dawson reports.
Compared to the last sale on April 25 the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies hardly changed, firming 0.16%, having minimal impact on local prices.
Dawson reports ongoing supply issues due to severe weather events has disrupted wool flows with limited volumes now available over the coming weeks as winter approaches, pressuring exporters to find sufficient volumes to meet contracted shipping schedules.
Fine crossbred full fleece were 2 to 4% dearer. Longer fine crossbred shears were 3 to 4% stronger with shorter types ranging from 1 to 4% firmer.
Crossbred full fleece, good and poor styles lifted 3 to 4% with average styles improving 2%.
Coarse shears were 2 to 4% dearer. First Lambs ranged from firm to 4% stronger.
Long oddments were strongly contested, lifting 6 to 8%. Good colour short oddments were 4 to 6% with poor styles increasing 5 to 10%.
Main interest came from China, Australasia and India, supported by Middle East, Western Europe and United Kingdom.
The next sale on May 15 comprises about 8600 bales from the North Island.
Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).

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