Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The combined North and South Island sale comprising 14,100 bales saw a 91.2% clearance with an overall firm market tone, says NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies increased by 0.42% compared to last sale on November 29 with little impact in most areas.
Dawson says recent renewed activity from China has helped stimulate the finer sector of the market with carpet types generally holding their ground.
Mid micron fleece strengthened 1.5 to 5%. Fine crossbred full fleece ranged from firm to 5% stronger. Fine crossbred shears 2 to 4 inches to 3 to 5 inches were generally 2 to 5% dearer with only the shorter types decreasing by up to 3%.
Coarse crossbred fleece and shears were generally firm to buyers favour. First lambs fleece were firm to 2% dearer.
Long oddments were buyers favour with shorter types firm to 4% stronger.
China dominated the market with limited support by Western Europe, Middle East, United Kingdom, India and Australasia.
The next sale on December 13 comprises about 7200 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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