Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
Most types of wool eased this week because of the strengthening NZ dollar and completed shipping requirements, says NZ Wool Services International Ltd’s marketing executive, Paul Steel.
The finer crossbred wools were impacted the most. The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies lifted by 1.39% compared to the last sale on March 19. Of the 9700 bales on offer, 81% sold.
Steel says this week’s South Island prices came more into line with North Island levels in the finer wools as urgent shipments for Asia were completed. The price disparity between centres has now largely dissipated.
Fine crossbred full fleece eased 3- 5% with shorter shears 2-4% cheaper. Good and poor colour coarse crossbred full fleece remained firm with average style 1% easier.
Coarse shears were down 1-3%. First lambs were 1.5-2.5% cheaper. Long coarse oddments were 2% softer with good colour short oddments firm and average/poor styles 1-4% easier.
There was reduced competition, with Asia, Australasia and the Middle East most active, supported by Western Europe, India and the United Kingdom.
The next sale which will be held on Wednesday, April 1, due to the Easter break, comprises about 7800 bales from the North Island.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.

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