Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The wool market was generally down this week due to a combination of strained exporter cash flows, slower demand and a slightly stronger dollar, New Zealand Wool Services International's general manager, John Dawson says.
The Auckland port dispute further impacted on exporter cash flows with some deferred shipping due to lack of containers.
South Island price levels have now come more into line with their North Island counterparts.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies compared to the last sale on the March 22 was marginally stronger by 0.5%.
Compared with last week's South Island sale Crossbred Fleece was generally up to 5% cheaper, Early Shorn Second Shear 2.5% cheaper and Short Length Second Shear 2.5 to 5% cheaper. Lambs were up to 3% cheaper. Oddments were 2.5 to 5% cheaper. Compared with last week's North Island sale prices were generally firm with the exception of Lambs which are still 1% above North Island values.
The next sale on the April 4 comprises approximately 12,000 bales of North Island wool.
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Auckland’s Mt Roskill suburb, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.

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