Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
DESPITE a resurgent New Zealand dollar, the South Island offering of 11,500 bales saw most types range from firm to 3% dearer, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson, reports.
Even with the strength of the sale and an 86% clearance, some growers were still unprepared to accept current market levels with 13% of the offering being passed in.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was 1.36%t up on the last sale on April 3.
Dawson says fine crossbred fleece and shears were between 1 and 3% firmer. Coarse full fleece were firm to 2% dearer with coarse shears firm to 3% dearer. Longer first lambs eased slightly with the balance firm to 2% dearer. Long oddments were generally firm with short oddments up to 1% dearer.
Good competition came from Australasia, China, India and Western Europe principals, and was supported by the Middle East and United Kingdom.
The next sale on Wednesday, April 16 comprises about 8,200 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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