Furore as Kāinga Ora rules out wool carpets
State housing provider, Kāinga Ora’s decision to rule out the use of wool carpets in social housing has been described as a slap in the face by sheep farmers.
New Zealand Wool Services International Limited's marketing executive, Malcolm Ching, reports that wool prices have continued to decline.
This is despite a slightly easier New Zealand dollar compared to the last sale on 15 October.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies came down 0.85 percent. Of the 8,290 bales on offer, 70% sold.
Ching advises that the tightening of the Chinese economy is restricting new business with exporters covering for old orders only, with quota issues restricting concluding new contracts.
Compared to 8th October sale;
Merino Fleece 17 to 18.5 and 22 to 23.5 microns eased 2 to 6% with pressure on 19 to 19.5 microns increasing levels by 4%.
Mid Micron wools were neglected with 24 to 29.5 microns reducing by 8 to 9%.
Compared to 15th October sale;
Fine Crossbred Fleece 31 to 32 microns were 11 to 13% cheaper.
Fine Crossbred Shears 32 to 35 microns were down 1.5 to 3.5%.
Full Fleece coarser than 36 microns were nominally up to 1% easier.
Coarse Shears were 1.5 to 2% down.
Short oddments were 3 to 5% cheaper.
Limited competition with old orders for China dominating the finer wools and Australasia supporting the coarser sector. Limited support from Western Europe, Middle East, United Kingdom and India.
Next sale on 29October comprises of approximately 5,100 bales from the North Island.
Biosecurity New Zealand says test results to date from a small free-range layer chicken farm near Dunedin are negative for avian influenza.
ANZ agricultural economist Susan Kilsby is describing the 2024-25 dairy season as ‘a cracker’.
How much shade and shelter do our sheep need in an era of more extreme weather and the lack of natural shelter on farms?
Fonterra has unveiled a net profit of $263 million for the first quarter of its 2024-25 financial year.
Biosecurity New Zealand has reported no signs of disease on other chicken farms operated by Mainland Poultry in Otago, however testing and monitoring work continues.
The Canterbury Growers Society will soon be seeking sponsorship for a new regional young grower competition, after an absence of several years.
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