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.
NZ Wool Services International's North Island offering of 5400 bales received strong support with 99% selling, chief executive John Dawson says.
A similar currency range to last weeks' sale on November 5 saw the weighted indicator down only 0.16% playing a minor role, with awakening Chinese interests and steady enquiry from other sectors underpinning the market.
Dawson advises fine crossbred full fleece and second shears were firm to 4.5% dearer, with the shorter types supported the most.
Coarse full fleece were also firm with shears 1 to 2.5% stronger.
Oddments were generally firm. There was strong competition with China, Australasia and Western Europe principals, supported by India, Middle East and the United Kingdom.
The next sale on November 19 comprises about 5700 bales from the South Island.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.