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.
Massey University vice chancellor Pierre Venter says his institute is moving from a period of austerity into a growth phase, based on their new strategy.
With the red meat sector going through a boom time with high prices, the time is right for the industry to step up its investment into developing new food products.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby says there’s now much closer cooperation between meat processing companies than there was many years ago.
A new fruit quality research laboratory has been opened in Auckland by agritech company Hectre to develop pioneering hyperspectral technology.
Farmer lobby Groundswell believes that farmers are worried about the implications of a potential centre-left government.
With less than a week to go before voters choose the next government, Federated Farmers has a simple message to its members - get out and vote.