Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The 7400 bales on offer in the North Island today saw strong demand due to the lack of wool as a result of drought and in particular in the South Island wet weather conditions delaying shearing.
New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager John Dawson says the weighted indicator to the main currencies is unchanged compared to last South Island wool sale.
A reasonable offering of fine crossbred early shorn and second shear 3 to 5 inch and 3 to 4 inch wool of 35 and 36 micron were fully 4% dearer, whilst the shorter 2 to 4 and 2 to 3 inch were only 1% dearer.
Coarse crossbred fleece was 3 to 4% dearer. Coarse crossbred early shorn and second shear 3 to 5 and 3 to 4 inch were fully 3 to 4% dearer, with the shorter 2 to 4 and 2 to 3 inch 1% dearer.
A limited offering of lambs' wool was 2.5% dearer. Combing oddments which were of limited offering were 5% dearer, whilst a good selection of clothing oddments were firm.
Strong competition with China, Australasia Carpet Mills, Europe and the Indian continent.
The next sale on June 27 comprises about 13,000 bales from the North Island and 9500 bales from the South Island.
Voting has started for the renewal of DairyNZ's milksolids levy.
The most successful catchment groups in NZ are those that have 'a source to sea' approach.
Associate Agriculture Minister and Manawatu dairy farmer Andrew Hoggard says the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiated with India is not a bad deal and his party, Act, will support it when it goes before Parliament.
Newly released data from Environment Canterbury (ECan) Farm Environment Plan (FEP) audits are showing a dramatic lift in environmental performance across the region.
A solid recovery of global dairy prices this year makes a $9.50/kgMS milk price almost a shoo-in for this season.
As New Zealand marks the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (IYWF 2026), industry leaders are challenging the misconception that women only support farming.

OPINION: Here w go: the election date is set for November 7 and the politicians are out of the gate…
OPINION: ECan data was released a few days ago showing Canterbury farmers have made “giant strides on environmental performance”.