Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The 4700 bales on offer saw a 74% clearance with mixed results, however all prices paid locally are still above last week’s North Island auction levels, NZ Wool Services International chief executive John Dawson reports.
The weighted currency indicator is up 0.91% having a slight negative impact .
Dawson advises the market continues to be dominated by very targeted buying with better style wools still attracting most attention.
Compared to the last similar South Island selection on November 17;
Merino fleece were 3.5 to 12% dearer.
Mid Micron fleece saw varied results with specific brackets targeted, ranging from 2% cheaper to 3.5% dearer.
Fine crossbred fleece were 4% dearer.
Coarse full fleece and shears were 1 to 4% easier, however compared to last week’s North Island sale were 1 to 7.5% dearer.
Oddments were 3 to 12% cheaper in the South, but compared to the north were 7 to 10% dearer.
Competition was limited with China principals supported by Western Europe, Australasia and the Middle East.
The next sale on December 8 comprises about 9200 bales from the North Island.
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.
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.

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