Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The high volume of short second shears eased slightly at the latest NZ Wool Services International's auction.
The high volume of short second shears eased slightly at the latest NZ Wool Services International's auction compared to the last North Island auction on May 12, says chief executive John Dawson.
Apart from that there were minimal changes.Of the 8,600 bales on offer 88% sold. Currency had minimal impact with the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies down only 0.47% week on week.
Dawson says the listed volumes of fine crossbred longer shears were 1 to 2% dearer with the shorter types firm to 2% easier.
Coarse crossbred fleece were firm to 2.5% dearer. Longer coarse shears were firm to 2% firmer with the high volumes of short shears on offer 1 to 2% easier.
Fine first lambs were firm to 3% dearer with coarse lambs 3 to 4% cheaper. Oddments were firm to 5% easier.
There are now quite disparate price levels between the limited type selection and styles in the North Island and the more varied offering from the South Island making direct comparisons difficult.
There was good competition with Australasia, Western Europe and United Kingdom principal, supported by Middle East, India and China.
The next sale on June 2 comprises about 6,500 bales from the South Island.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.
A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent who illegally swapped NAIT tags from cows infected with a bovine disease in an attempt to sell the cows has been fined $15,000.
Bill and Michelle Burgess had an eye-opening realisation when they produced the same with fewer cows.
It was love that first led Leah Prankerd to dairying. Decades later, it's her passion for the industry keeping her there, supporting, and inspiring farmers across the region.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…