The heavy rains have put a dampener on wool sales.

Wool Partners International has cancelled its North and South Island wool auctions of about 8,000 bales this week in an effort to conserve enough for next week.

 Both the South and North Island have less than half the normal supply. Muddy woolsheds made it difficult to bring in stock in a shearable condition.

Farmers were normally "second shearing" now and the delays will likely affect forward export orders.

Wool Services International, which handles about a third of the nation's export clip, said a drop in the exchange rate against the greenback had prompted a flurry of inquiries but the weather had put pressure on supplies.

Marketing manager Malcolm Ching said when the weather improved, there could be a glut affecting farmers' cash flow.

Meantime, shearing contractors are trying to catch up after delays caused by the wet weather.

Next week’s  wool auctions will go ahead but are expected to be several thousand bales short.

The Shearing Contractors Federation says sheep can't be shorn in wet weather, disrupting  pre-lamb shearing.

Federation president Barry Pullen says there are also quality issues, such as shorter wool grown by sheep getting less feed in drought conditions.