Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
THE 6000 BALES of North Island wool on offer this week saw a 91% clearance, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.
Most wool types saw lower prices than at the previous South Island sale held on November 7. The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies moved only slightly in the week.
Fine crossbred fleece 33 to 35 micron was up to 5% cheaper. Crossbred full-fleece 37 micron and coarser saw a 5% decline. Finer crossbred early shorn and second shear types 32 to 35 micron were generally 2.5 to 5% cheaper. Combing oddments were 5% cheaper, while carding oddment types were par to 2.5% cheaper.
The principal buyers were China and Australasian carpet mills, supported by Western Europe.
The next sale on November 21 comprises 5890 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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