Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
The first wool auction of the 2015/16 season saw a 92% clearance with a slightly softer tone, says NZWI general manager, John Dawson.
The auction, which offered 6800 bales, was made up of 80% short second shear wools.
Despite a weaker New Zealand dollar compared to the last sale on June 25, with the weighted currency indicator down 1.96%, the bulk of the offering was firm to 2% easier.
Dawson says that the seasonal slow-down is due to the approach of European vacation period and well-stocked supply lines in China. This is limiting new orders for wool temporarily.
Fine crossbred shears were firm to 2% cheaper.
Good colour coarse fleece were 1.5% down with average style firm to 1% firmer. Poor styles were up to 1% cheaper. Longer coarse shears were firm to 1% dearer with good colour short types firm to 3% dearer.
Oddments ranged from 2% cheaper to 3.5% dearer.
The auction saw good competition, with exporters continuing to cover orders mainly destined to China, Australasia and Western Europe, supported by India, United Kingdom and the Middle East.
The next sale on July 16 comprises about 7800 bales from the South 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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