Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
THE LIMITED offering of 6000 bales of South Island wool on offer saw a 90% clearance with most types increasing 2 to 4%, New Zealand Wool Services International 's general manager John Dawson reports.
Compared to the last sale on April 25 the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies hardly changed, firming 0.16%, having minimal impact on local prices.
Dawson reports ongoing supply issues due to severe weather events has disrupted wool flows with limited volumes now available over the coming weeks as winter approaches, pressuring exporters to find sufficient volumes to meet contracted shipping schedules.
Fine crossbred full fleece were 2 to 4% dearer. Longer fine crossbred shears were 3 to 4% stronger with shorter types ranging from 1 to 4% firmer.
Crossbred full fleece, good and poor styles lifted 3 to 4% with average styles improving 2%.
Coarse shears were 2 to 4% dearer. First Lambs ranged from firm to 4% stronger.
Long oddments were strongly contested, lifting 6 to 8%. Good colour short oddments were 4 to 6% with poor styles increasing 5 to 10%.
Main interest came from China, Australasia and India, supported by Middle East, Western Europe and United Kingdom.
The next sale on May 15 comprises about 8600 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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