Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The local market lifted significantly for the 10,400 bales on offer at the South Island sale this week, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson says.
The weakening NZ dollar, particularly against the US dollar which was down 4.97% compared to the last sale on May 9 and the weighted currency indicator down 3.91% was the principal market influence. This was supported by recent strong purchasing interest and a seasonal limited wool supply.
Dawson says a nominal offering of mid micron fleece were firm to 3% dearer.Fine crossbred fleece lifted up to 3.5% with the second shears 5 to 8% stronger. Good colour coarse crossbred fleece lifted 6% with poorer styles 2.5 to 5.5% dearer.
Coarse longer second shears were 4 to 6.5% firmer with shorter types 5 to 9% stronger. First lambs fleece ranged from 3 to 7% dearer. All coarse oddments were 9 to 10% stronger.Strong competition from Western Europe, Australasia and the United Kingdom was supported by China, India and the Middle East.
The next sale on the May 30 comprises 11,300 bales from the North Island.
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

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