News

Despite challenging winter weather across parts of the South Island, confidence continues to build across the livestock sector, with strong bull sale results, improving sheep and beef returns, and emerging land-use opportunities providing reasons for optimism. Speaking with The Country's Hamish...

Farmers’ and breeders’ desire to invest in the best available genetics make this a standout season for two-year-old bull sales. May and June proved to be a stellar period for breeders as farmers driven to secure the best genetics available propelled this year’s two-year-old bull sales to new highs...

Conditions ripe for peak demand as bidr now available at all upcoming Waikato feeder calf sales. Waikato feeder calf sales are set to start in mid-July and will progress through the rest of the country to reach Southland by mid-August, with the sale season continuing through to late September. On...

Processor positivity and propitious climatic conditions pushing demand and supporting plenty of activity as farmers prepare for the winter. Strong markets for red meat, and generally kind early winter weather are enabling farmers to make trading decisions from a position of strength. In the North...

Local network and farming background create an early advantage for a career embedded in Northland. Kurtis Danks is a Northland local through and through. When he started as a PGG Wrightson beef, dairy and sheep livestock representative based in Wellsford in July 2025, he had no previous experience...

Central Hawke’s Bay stud Forest Road Farm bringing in-fawn hinds to the market via New Zealand’s virtual saleyard. A fully online sale of high value capital velvet stock is a first for a Central Hawke’s Bay stud this month. Farmers will have an unprecedented opportunity to access the deer through...

Moving Day has officially finished for another year, with farmers, sharemilkers, contract milkers, and farm staff packing up their households, machinery, and livestock to relocate to new farms for the upcoming season. It’s also a busy time financially, with dairy cow herds changing ownership, Andrew...

Bulls, cull cows, two-year-old cattle, store lambs and dairy herds all changing hands as livestock markets ease into regular seasonal shift. Nationwide livestock markets are almost in winter mode. Although dry districts in some pockets of the South Island would benefit from rain, most farmers have...

Image credit to: Sentient Imagery Limited . New bidr option proves its worth, underpinning demand and reaching nationwide market at South Otago Simmental stud’s annual bull sale. A new format for bidr, an online helmsman auction, proved its worth at this year’s Beresford Simmental bull sale...

Multi-generational Te Awamutu butchery turns to PGG Wrightson to supply new operation producing pulled meat for nationwide distribution. A new opportunity has arisen for Waikato and King Country farmers producing Hereford cattle. A long-established local butcher has turned to PGG Wrightson to...

Looking forward to whatever the future holds. Growing up on his parents’ Bindy and Steve Free’s Dannevirke sheep and beef farm, Max Free always knew farming was in his future. “Being outdoors in the landscape, working alongside inspiring people, seeing the country: I’ve always been drawn to that.”...

In-fawn hinds from Altrive Red Deer, Riversdale continue to prove the benefits of bidr to find buyers for premium bloodlines. A Southland deer stud, the first in the country to use bidr, is preparing for its eighth annual in-fawn winter hind sale on New Zealand’s virtual saleyard. Altrive Red Deer...

Interest rates, returns and renewed bank enthusiasm boost sector and stimulate activity on dairying’s biggest day. This year’s Moving Day, the start of the new dairy season and one of the most important on the rural calendar, was one of the busiest for several years. Reduced interest rates, strong...

The autumn bull sales have kicked off this week with a lot of interest in beef, but can last year’s record price of $161,000 for an Angus bull be topped? PGG Wrightson’s National Genetics Manager, Callum McDonald, reckons that’s “the million-dollar question” - but never say never. “With the beef...

Several long-established studs set to mark important anniversaries in what could be another bumper year. During last year’s two-year-old bull sales numerous records fell across the country. With all the fundamentals continuing to support optimism in beef, this could also be a stellar year. However...

How to save time and fuel by using New Zealand’s virtual saleyard to buy stock. Farmers in remote districts are taking particular advantage of bidr to save time and fuel. A PGG Wrightson Livestock sheep, beef and dairy representative based in Taumarunui, Marty Cashin works with numerous clients in...

Making opportunities and creating growth. Opportunity is a recurring theme in the near 40-year career of Tom Mowat: opportunities he’s taken, and opportunities he’s created for others. Coming back to a role he previously held between 2015 and 2018, Tom was recently re-appointed as PGG Wrightson...

Substantial support for premium dairy genetics, and rising cow price through forward herd sales underscore sector positivity. Confidence in dairy is strong. Despite some falls in Global Dairy Trade auctions during April, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, Fonterra recently lifted its 2025/26...