Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The weakening New Zealand dollar helped local prices this week with most types increasing by the corresponding currency change, says NZWSI general manager, John Dawson.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was down 2.04% compared to the last sale on 9th July.
Of the 7,900 bales on offer from the South Island, 88% sold with types suitable for in the grease shipments coming under strong competition.
Dawson says that compared to the South Island sale on 25th June, Mid Micron Fleece 24.5 to 27.5 microns were firm to 1.5% dearer with 28 and 29 microns coming down 1 to 4%.
Compared to the last time it was offered, at the North Island sale on 9th July, Fine Crossbred Fleece remained firm with longer shear types up to 3% dearer.
Coarse Crossbred Fleece were firm to 2% stronger.
Coarse Shears 3 to 5 inches were up 1 to 2%, 3 to 4 inches 2.5 to 4.5% dearer and 2 to 4 inch and shorter, 2 to 3% dearer.
Long Oddments were nominally 2% dearer with short oddments ranging from 1% cheaper to 2% dearer.
There was widespread interest for the wide cross section of types available, with Chinese shippers the most active, supported by Australasia, Western Europe, Middle East and India.
The next sale on 23rd July comprises approximately 6,000 bales from the North Island, down 32% on anticipated roster due to poor weather delaying shearing.
The sale of Fonterra’s global consumer and related businesses is expected to be completed within two months.
Fonterra is boosting its butter production capacity to meet growing demand.
For the most part, dairy farmers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and the Manawatu appear to have not been too badly affected by recent storms across the upper North Island.
South Island dairy production is up on last year despite an unusually wet, dull and stormy summer, says DairyNZ lower South Island regional manager Jared Stockman.
Following a side-by-side rolling into a gully, Safer Farms has issued a new Safety Alert.
Coming in at a year-end total at 3088 units, a rise of around 10% over the 2806 total for 2024, the signs are that the New Zealand farm machinery industry is turning the corner after a difficult couple of years.

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