Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
New Zealand Wool Services International marketing executive, Malcolm Ching reports that the 15,000 bales on offer from both centres this week saw a slight easing for most types.
Higher volumes than anticipated, a stronger New Zealand dollar and sluggish overseas interest over the past weeks added to the softer tone.
Despite the easier market, 93% sold. The weighted currency indicator lifted 0.83%.
Ching advises that compared to the December 3 sale, Mid Micron Fleece were 2.5 to 4% cheaper.
Compared to the North Island sale of December 10, Fine Crossbred Fleece and Shears were generally 1 to 3% cheaper however some specific types resisted this trend.
Coarse Crossbred good colour fleece remained firm with average and poor styles 1 to 2% easier.
Crossbred Shears were firm to 2% cheaper with good support for the better style shorter wools.
First Lambs eased 1.5 to 3%. Oddments received varied support, ranging from firm to 6% cheaper.
There was good competition with China, Australasia and Western Europe principals supported by Middle East, United Kingdom and India.
The next sale is on January 7, 2016 comprising about 13,000 bales from the North Island.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.
Farmers appear to be cautiously welcoming the Government’s plan to reform local government, according to Ag First chief executive, James Allen.
The Fonterra divestment capital return should provide “a tailwind to GDP growth” next year, according to a new ANZ NZ report, but it’s not “manna from heaven” for the economy.
Fonterra's Eltham site in Taranaki is stepping up its global impact with an upgrade to its processed cheese production lines, boosting capacity to meet growing international demand.

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