Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The North Island auction received mixed support with the stronger NZ dollar having a limited impact in some areas.
New Zealand Wool Services International's chief executive John Dawson says the North Island auction received mixed support with the stronger NZ dollar having a limited impact in some areas.
Of the 6,500 bales on offer 97.5% sold.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was up 1.35% compared to the last sale on 19th November, accounting for a corresponding local market reduction in some sectors.
Dawson advises that the finer end of the Fine Crossbred Fleece were up to 1.5% dearer with the stronger end buyer's favour.
Fine Crossbred Shears 3 to 5 and 3 to 4 inches were firm to 2.5% cheaper with the shorter lengths firm to 2% dearer.
Coarse Crossbred Full Fleece were 1.5% cheaper with Coarse Shears firm to 2% dearer.
Long Oddments remained firm with shorter oddments 3 to 7% cheaper.
Lambs Fleece were nominally unchanged.
Well spread competition with China and Australasia principals supported by Western Europe, Middle East, India and the United Kingdom.
Next sale on 3 December will comprise of approximately 5,000 bales from the South Island with the North Island sale cancelled due to weather affecting shearing.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…