Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
Targeted types such as some first lambs fleece and oddments resisted a generally weaker market last week, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.
Of the 13,230 bales eventually offered as growers continue to resist selling at these lower levels, 67% sold, which is a better result than the past two auctions.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was down 0.6% compared to the last sale on April 19 having minimal impact on prices.
Dawson advises that fine crossbred wools eased up to 3%.
Good colour coarse fleece was 1% softer with poorer styles 2 to 3.5% cheaper. Long coarse shears were 1 to 2% easier with the shorter types 2 to 3.5% down.
First lambs were firm to 2% weaker. Second lambs and long oddments, which are generally better processing wools than comparative North Island types were 8 to 12% stronger.
Good style short oddments were firm with the poorer styles 7 to 12% dearer.
Limited competition with China and Western Europe continuing to dominate, supported by India, Middle East and Australasia.
Next sale on May 3 comprises approximately 7500 bales of North Island wools.
Last month's Agritechnica event led to a wide group of manufacturers celebrating successes when the 2026 Tractor of the Year Competition winners, selected by a panel of European journalists, were announced in Hanover Germany.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.

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