Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
CONCERNS OVER Europe’s economy has hit wool consumer and processor confidence, making many buyers stand out of the market, says Wool Services International.
That resulted in an average 4% easing in prices at yesterday’s (December 8) auction. With sellers reluctant to accept lower market levels 31% was passed in.
Currency played little part, the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies being just 0.14% up since last week’s auction.
WSI says fine crossbred full fleece as well as 3/5 and 3/4 inch shears were 3 to 4% softer with the shorter types discounted by 5 to 8%.
Coarse crossbred fleece was 3.5 to 5% easier with longer shears 3 to 6% cheaper and 2/4 and 2/3 inch shears 6 to 7% weaker.
Coarse combing oddments ranged from 5 to 8% cheaper. Clothing oddments 2/4 inch resisted the trend and increased by 1%, but shorter types were up to 4% softer.
China and Australasia dominated the buying.
The next sale, December 15, comprises approximately 6,600 bales from the North Island and 6,900 bales from the South Island, which is 9,000 bales less than the anticipated rostered quantities.
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.
The black and white coat of Holstein- Friesian cows is globally recognised as a symbol of dairy farming and a defining trait of domestic cattle. But until recently, scientists didn’t know which genes were responsible for the Holstein’s spots.
According to the New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2024/25 report, New Zealand dairy farmers are achieving more with fewer cows.

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