Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The 9500 bales on offer at this week's North Island sale saw a 93% clearance with a generally firm market, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager John Dawson.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies eased 0.94% compared to the last sale on November 8, helping local prices.
Dawson says the fine crossbred fleece was slightly buyers' favour with longer shears up to 2% easier and shorter types firm.
Coarse full length crossbred fleece and longer shears remained firm with 2 to 4 inch wools firm to 1.5% dearer and 2 to 3 inch up to 2.5% stronger. Crossbred oddments generally remained firm.
There was limited competition with China dominating supported by India, Middle East, Western Europe and the United Kingdom.
The next sale on November 22 comprises about 10,255 bales from the South Island.
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.

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