Beef + Lamb NZ's Lambing Kit Checklist for a Tough Season
With lambing underway in many regions, Beef + Lamb New Zealand is encouraging farmers to put together a wellequipped lambing kit to help minimise lamb losses, particularly in bad weather.
The South Island sale of 8565 bales comprising a wide range of wool types saw good support with 78% of the offering selling.
NZ Wool Services International Ltd’s chief executive John Dawson reports the a weakening NZ dollar compared to the main trading currencies saw the weighted indicator easing 1.1% compared to last week, giving a small amount of support to local prices.
Dawson advises pressure for quick shipment of orders and the diverse wool types on offer attracted good support, helping underpin the market.
Compared to last time offered at the South Island sale on September 22 merino fleece 16 to 19 microns were firm to 1.5% cheaper with 20 to 23 microns generally 1.5% easier and mid micron fleece 25 microns were 1% dearer with 25.5 to 29 microns 1 to 4% cheaper.
Compared to the North Island sale on September 29 fine crossbred fleece 32 to 35 microns were firm with early shorn and second shears 3 to 5 and 3 to 4 inches also remaining firm. Shears 2 to 4 inches were 2 to 3.5% cheaper with 2 to 3 inches firm to 1% cheaper.
Coarse crossbred full fleece were firm for good colour and 1% dearer for average colour.
Longer coarse shears were firm with 2 to 4 inches 3.5 to 5.5% cheaper and 2 to 3 inches 2.5% easier.
Short oddments were 4 to 6% cheaper with faulted lines discounted the most.
The next sale on October 20 comprises about 5600 bales from the North Island and 8150 bales from the South Island.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.

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