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.
Bradley Wadsworth lives on the family farm – Omega Station – in the Wairarapa about 30 minutes’ drive east from Masterton.
With global milk prices falling, the question is when will key exporting countries reach a tipping point where production starts to dip.
Rural contractors want the Government to include a national standard for air plans as part of its Resource Management Act reforms.
The biggest reform of local government in more than 35 years is underway.
An industry-wide project led by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is underway to deal with the rising number of feral pests, in particular, browsing pests such as deer and pigs.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.

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