Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
Apart from a small selection of mid micron wools, all other types at the South Island sale were between 1 and 4% dearer, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson, says.
Of the 6035 bales on offer, 90% sold. The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was down 2.36% adding strength to local prices.
Dawson advises mid micron fleece were 2.5 to 3.5% cheaper. Fine crossbred fleece were up to 1.5% firmer with shorter types 2 to 4% dearer. Coarse crossbred full fleece were 2 to 3% stronger with shears firm to 2.5% dearer.
Long oddments were 3% stronger with shorter types up to 1.5% firmer.
There was limited competition with China, Australasia and United Kingdom most active, supported by Middle East and India. The next sale on August 29 comprises about 7600 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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