Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The latest wool auction of 4,700 bales from the North Island saw mixed price movements with a generally steady market overall.
New Zealand Wool Services International general manager, John Dawson says that despite dramatic currency movements in some sectors, the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies eased only 1.53%, having limited impact on local prices.
He says that hand to mouth customer buying activity and limited seasonal wool volumes combined with current exporter shipping requirements, underpins the market presently.
Fine Crossbred Full Fleece and shorter shears were firm to 2.5% easier with longer shears up to 2% dearer.
Good style full Crossbred Fleece were 1% easier, average 1% firmer and poor firm to 1% cheaper.
Coarse Shears were firm to 2% easier with shorter types affected the most.
Long Lambs Fleece were firm to 1% dearer, with shorter types 1 to 3% cheaper. Long Oddments lifted by up to 3% with good colour
Short Oddments 1 to 2% easier and poor styles firm.
The auction saw limited activity with China principal, supported by Australasia, India, Middle East and Western Europe.
The next sale on May 7 comprises about 6700 bales from the South Island, down 32% on anticipated rostered quantities.
DairyNZ is giving New Zealand farmers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on governance and leadership experience within the dairy sector.
Herd improvement company LIC has posted a 5.2% lift in half-year revenue, thanks to increasing demand for genetics.
According to the latest Fresh Produce Trend Report from United Fresh, 2026 will be a year where fruit and vegetables are shaped by cost pressures, rapid digital adoption, and a renewed focus on wellbeing at home.
The Roar is a highlight of the game hunting calendar in New Zealand, with thousands of hunters set to head for the hills to hunt male stags during March and April.
OPINION: The past few weeks have been tough on farms across the North Island: floods and storms have caused damage and disruption to families and businesses.
European dairy giant Arla Foods celebrated its 25th anniversary as a cross-border, farmer-owned co-operative with a solid half-year result.

OPINION: Meanwhile, red blooded Northland politician Matua Shane Jones has provided one of the most telling quotes of the year…
OPINION: This old mutt has been around for a few years now and it seems these ‘once in 100-year’ weather…