Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The 7250 bales of North Island wool on offer saw a 72% clearance with most types easing further.
NZ Wool Services International Ltd’s marketing executive Malcolm Ching reports that some good colour types resisted this trend as buyers continue very focused buying with targeted better style wools getting more support.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was 0.64% lower than last week’s sale, having minimal positive impact.
Ching advises that subdued demand and continued uncertainty around new market interest in coming weeks, is restricting buying activity.
Compared to the last similar North Island selection on November 10: Good colour fine crossbred fleece were 1 to 2% dearer with average/poor styles 3 to 7% cheaper. Good colour fine crossbred shears 3 / 5 and 3 / 4 inches were 2.5 to 5.5%t easier with 2 / 4 and 2 / 3 inches firm to 5% dearer. All poorer style fine crossbred shears were 3.5 to 7% cheaper.
Good colour coarse crossbred fleece were firm with poorer styles 7 to 8% cheaper. Coarse shears 3 / 5 to 2 / 4 inches were 1 to 5% cheaper with 2 / 3 inches 1.5% dearer.
Short oddments ranged from 7 to 13% cheaper.
Competition was limited with Australasia, Western Europe and China principals, supported by Middle East, India and the United Kingdom.
Next sale on December 1 comprises about 4550 bales from the South Island.
After two years, Alliance Group has returned to profit.
According to Zespri's November forecast for the 2025/26 season, returns are likely to be up for all fruit groups compared to the last forecast in August.
Next month, wool training will reach one of New Zealand's most remote communities, the Chatham Islands - bringing hands-on skills and industry connection to locals eager to step into the wool harvesting sector.
Farmers' health and wellbeing will take centre stage with a new hub at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Dannevirke farmer Dan Billing has been announced as the new national chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand's (B+LNZ) Farmer Council.
A Mid Canterbury beef farm has unlocked a new market for its products thanks to its unusual beef breed, and an award-winning pie taking the district by storm.

OPINION: Winston Peters has described the decision to sell its brand to Lactalis and disperse the profit to its farmer…
OPINION: The Hound reckons a big problem with focusing too much on the wrong goal - reducing livestock emissions at…