Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
A weakening New Zealand dollar and steady offshore buying saw all wool types improve for the latest South Island wool auction, reports NZWSI.
The auction, which offered 9300 bales, saw 87% selling, says NZWSI marketing executive, Malcolm Ching.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currency came down 1.29% compared to the last sale on September 3.
Merino fleece, 21.5 micron and finer, were 5-10% dearer with 22 to 23.5 microns 1- 2% firmer than the last time they sold, on August 27, says Ching.
Mid micron fleece, 24 to 29 micron, were firm to 3.5% dearer with 29.5 to 31.5 3 to 7% stronger.
Compared to the September 3 sale, fine crossbred full fleece and longer shears were 4-6.5% dearer with shorter shears 1-3% firmer.
Coarse crossbred full fleece were 5-7% stronger, longer shears 3- 6% dearer and shorter shears ranged from 1.5- 6% stronger.
Oddments were firm to 4% firmer.
The auction saw strong competition with China the principal, supported by Western Europe, Australasia, Middle East and India.
The next sale has been fixed for September 17 and comprises about 6000 bales from the North Island.
New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) has launched a new initiative designed to make it easier for employers to support their young team members by covering their NZYF membership.
Sheep infant nutrition maker Blue River Dairy is hoping to use its success in China as a springboard into other markets in future.
Plentiful milk supplies from key producer countries are weighing down global dairy prices.
The recent windstorm that cut power to dairy farms across Southland for days has taught farmers one lesson – keep a generator handy on each farm.
The effects of the big windstorm of late October will be felt in lost production in coming weeks as repair crews work through the backlog of toppled irrigation pivots, says Culverden dairy farmer Fran Gunn.
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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