Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The 7000 bales of South Island wools on offer this week saw a slightly easier market overall with an 82% clearance, reports NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies lifted 0.21% to the downward pressure on local prices.
Dawson reports the northern European summer break and continuing pressure on China's internal economic situation is limiting the market at present as exporters cover for immediate shipment commitments only.
The fine and coarse end of the mid micron wools were firm to 2.5% dearer, with only the 26.5 to 27.5 types 1 to 3.5% cheaper. Fine crossbred full fleece were firm to 3% cheaper with shorter types firm to 2% easier.
Coarse crossbred full fleece and longer shears eased by 1% with the shorter types coming back 2 to 4%. A nominal offering of first lambs were firm to 4% cheaper.
Limited competition was spread mainly between China, Australasia and the Middle East with support from Western Europe, India and the United Kingdom.
The next sale on August 8 comprises about 5400 bales from the South 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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