News

The grass is lush and plentiful in Southland but that can bring both good and bad news, says PGG Wrightson’s livestock manager for the region, Andrew Martin. Feed-wise things were looking great, Martin told The County’s Jamie Mackay. “We’re probably as good as we’ve been for many a year.” Even...

The PGW Academy, established in 2006, focuses on developing talent within the company. Since its inception, more than 310 employees have completed the programme and have proceeded to enrich PGW, our clients’ businesses, and the wider agricultural and horticultural industries. As part of the...

Loving being part of a cool team of calm, collected people. Moving from a government agency into agriculture has been a change for a new member of the PGG Wrightson Livestock team. Gabby Swift started with the company in July having worked for the previous seven years in government positions, mainly...

Rare opportunity to buy ‘world’s cutest sheep’ . A reduction sale featuring a rare sheep breed that is winning fans the world over should attract plenty of interest in February, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Swiss heritage breed Valais Blacknose are reckoned to be the cutest sheep in the world...

Stag sale looking to capitalise on good news around venison schedule. One of the New Zealand’s top venison studs is holding its annual on farm sale this month. Located one kilometre northwest of Taihape, Ruapehu Red Deer’s two-year-old sire stag sale, on 13 December, will offer 30 plus lots. Click...

Final event at Netherdale will be a highlight of this season’s stag sales. One of Southland’s most respected deer breeders will end an era early in the new year. Netherdale Red Deer Stud, has been a key part of the deer industry in Southland for more than a generation. In 1979 David Stevens...

Spring grass growth provides buyers with confidence. Dairy beef is in solid demand at sales throughout the country, with North Island sales already under way, and sales in the South Island commencing before the end of November. The majority of sales are scheduled before Christmas, though a few in...

Growth, early weaning weight and fertility attracting top dollar. Ram sales started in the North Island in mid-November and are due to follow shortly in the South Island. Results have been mixed. While some studs are quietly satisfied, others have fallen short of expectations. The number of rams...

Early lambs sales more hesitant Spring cattle sales have just been completed in the South Island. Current positive schedules and good feed conditions throughout most South Island regions meant stock sold well, especially well-bred traditional cattle. Early lambs sales, including in paddock sales...

Unusual variant attracting attention for more than 90 years. While Hereford cattle are traditionally red bodied with white heads and other markings, a Wanganui cattle breeder has a theory, supported by more than 90 years’ of evidence, that there may be more to the breed. Lindsay Johnstone, along...

In a groundbreaking move, the New Zealand government has recently directed its agencies to prioritise the use of woollen fibres over synthetic alternatives in public sector buildings. This decision has garnered support from various quarters, and PGG Wrightson Wool stands firmly behind this...

By Rosstan Mazey, chair of the NZ Council of Wool Interests, CEO of WoolWorks Ventures At the start of the shearing season, quality preparation of the clip is an investment, not a cost. Ask yourself: what is the ultimate aim of wool preparation? Answer: to prepare your wool to achieve best...

Encompassing seven decades, a momentous career in wool comes to an end in a few weeks. PGG Wrightson North Island Wool Manager Allan Jones started in the business in December 1966. Growing up on his family’s South Canterbury lifestyle property and regularly working on farms including his uncle’s...

A significant quantity of merino wool has been offered at the South Island sales throughout November. Enduring interest from one of the major Australian fine wool exporters, who has attended our fine wool sales in person, further strengthens buying power in the room. This has resulted in prices that...

In the latest interview with Rowena Duncum from The Country , Grant Edwards, the General Manager for Wool at PGG Wrightson, provided insights into the current state of the wool market, notable retirements, and exciting developments. Listen to the interview below or read a summary of the key points...

Prolific winning Southland shearing legend Nathan Stratford has won a lot of titles in more than 30 years of competition shearing but still had time for something different at the Canterbury Shears’ New Zealand Corriedale shearing and woolhandling championships in Christchurch on Thursday and Friday...

The sheep industry is doing it tough right now, and unfortunately, things could get worse, according to PGG Wrightson’s Kevin Mortensen. “It’s hard at the moment and it could even get harder,” the King Country regional livestock manager told The Country’s Jamie Mackay. Many farmers were “entering...

PGG Wrightson’s Timaru Rural Supplies store is on the move. From Thursday, 9 November the store will be located at 325 Hilton Highway, Washdyke, Timaru. This new purpose‐built development combines our company store, office, and warehouse under one roof. The team is excited about moving to the new...