Milk Powder Prices Prop Up Farmgate Milk Price
Milk powder prices are keeping farmgate prices up, helping processors offset the dip in milk fat prices.
The latest combined North and South Island wool auction saw a 91% clearance and a generally firm market, says NZWSI general manager, John Dawson.
The auction comprised 20,585 bales.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was down 1.47% compared to the last sale on 11th June helping underpin local values.
Dawson advises that Finer Mid Micron Fleece were 3 to 6% easier with the coarser types firm to 2% dearer.
Fine Crossbred Fleece and Shears, which had been under pressure for the Chinese market, eased 2 to 6%.
Coarse Crossbred Full Fleece were firm in the South Island and ranged from firm to 3.5% cheaper in the North. Longer Coarse Shears were 1 to 2.5% cheaper with the short types 1 to 2% dearer.
First Lambs were 1 to 3% easier.
Long Oddments were firm to 3% dearer with short oddments ranging between 1 to 7% stronger.
The end of season sale was well supported with China, Australasia and the Middle East principals, supported by India, Western Europe and the United Kingdom.
The first sale for the 2015/16 season on 9th July, comprises approximately 9,400 bales from the North Island.
New Zealand's citrus growers were challenged to build their future on the value embedded in their fruit rather than the volume they produce, at Citrus New Zealand's annual gathering in Gisborne on 17 September.
Leading John Deere technicians and apprentices from New Zealand and Australians were recognised at the recent sixth annual JD Technician of the Year Awards, held in Brisbane.
In Dacre, near Invercargill in New Zealand’s South Island, Bruce Dinnington is running a dairy operation unlike any other.
A free online platform aggregating governance vacancies across rural and regional New Zealand has been launched.
Environment Minister Nicola Grigg has announced details of a new rural plastics recycling scheme.
Agricultural drone operators say that a government decision to allow lower-risk drone work without certification won’t lower standards but drive innovation and efficiency.

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