Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
THE LIMITED offering of 6000 bales of South Island wool on offer saw a 90% clearance with most types increasing 2 to 4%, New Zealand Wool Services International 's general manager John Dawson reports.
Compared to the last sale on April 25 the weighted indicator for the main trading currencies hardly changed, firming 0.16%, having minimal impact on local prices.
Dawson reports ongoing supply issues due to severe weather events has disrupted wool flows with limited volumes now available over the coming weeks as winter approaches, pressuring exporters to find sufficient volumes to meet contracted shipping schedules.
Fine crossbred full fleece were 2 to 4% dearer. Longer fine crossbred shears were 3 to 4% stronger with shorter types ranging from 1 to 4% firmer.
Crossbred full fleece, good and poor styles lifted 3 to 4% with average styles improving 2%.
Coarse shears were 2 to 4% dearer. First Lambs ranged from firm to 4% stronger.
Long oddments were strongly contested, lifting 6 to 8%. Good colour short oddments were 4 to 6% with poor styles increasing 5 to 10%.
Main interest came from China, Australasia and India, supported by Middle East, Western Europe and United Kingdom.
The next sale on May 15 comprises about 8600 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.
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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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