Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The double auctions in the South and North Islands attracted more interest yesterday.
New Zealand Wool Services chief executive John Dawson reports that the stronger NZ dollar did not stop most types firming in price, the tight supply conditions and a little more interest from China for quick shipment helped to underpin the market.
Compared to the last South Island auction merino, mid micron and fine crossbred fleece was 3-5% dearer.
North Island carpet types were 2-4% dearer.
The next sale on the 27th October will comprise approx. 6,000 bales
Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.
Applications are now open for the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards, set to be held at Parliament on 23 July.
Ravensdown has announced a collaboration with Kiwi icon, Footrot Flats in an effort to bring humour, heart, and connection to the forefront of the farming sector.
Forest & Bird's Kiwi Conservation Club is inviting New Zealanders of all ages to embrace the outdoors with its Summer Adventure Challenges.
Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.

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