Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The combined North and South Island wool auction saw a 79% clearance, the highest this season, with prices generally increasing across the board.
An easier New Zealand dollar and slightly improved business activity caused the lift, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.
The combined North and South Island offering comprised 13,900 bales. The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was down 0.85%.
Dawson advises that mid micron fleece, 25 to 30.5 micron, were 1.5 to 2.5% stronger. Fine crossbred fleece, 33 to 35 micron, were 3 to 4% stronger. Longer fine crossbred shears increased 4 to 6% with the shorter types, 2 to 4% dearer.
Coarse crossbred fleece and shears were firm to 3% dearer. A small selection of first lambs were nominally 1 to 2% firmer.
Coarse long oddments remained firm, however the shorter types were strongly contested with 2 to 4 inch wools increasing 6 to 10% and 2 to 3 inch up 2 to 4%.
Widespread interest with China, India and the Middle East dominating, supported by United Kingdom, Western Europe and Australasia.
The rostered sale on August 23 has been cancelled due to poor weather stopping shearing. The next sale is on August 30 comprising about 8400 bales from the South Island.
Good news for kiwifruit growers - a record crop with forecast per hectare returns at record levels for all fruit categories for the 2025-26 season.
As guests gathered on what is known as the Speaker's Lawn - a beautifully manicured patch of grass behind the main buildings of Parliament - to mingle and enjoy a lamb chop to celebrate National Lamb Day, the mood was very much upbeat.
Global dairy prices are on a roll, recording a fourth consecutive jump on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction this year.
Booming primary sector exports are helping lift earnings for farm service providers.
The world is waking up to the disadvantages of carpets derived from petrochemicals, creating opportunities for New Zealand strong wool.
The red meat sector finds itself in "a very rare set of circumstances", says Federated Farmers meat and wool industry chair Richard Dawkins.