News

Brook has recently won the 11 th Annual Heartland Bank Young Auctioneer competition. Jamie asked how Brook got his start. After leaving school at 17, Brook did a stint farming before starting with PGG Wrightson in the rural supplies store. he then started a traineeship with Wrightson Livestock...

Opawa Downs, Albury, puts up 600 Simmental-Herefords to enthusiastic response Early in October 2400 hectare Albury, South Canterbury farm Opawa Downs put up 600 Simmental-Hereford cross cattle at the property’s fifth annual on-farm sale, which resulted in a full clearance. Opawa Simmentals’ owners...

Enjoying the challenge, and the grand country After Jack Cartridge joined PGG Wrightson in June 2021, he spent 14 months as a trainee in North and South Canterbury, graduating to the role of livestock agent in Murchison in August. Although he found the new role daunting at the start, he enjoys the...

Farming background a big help in new role Like many others who work in agriculture, Jess Davies grew up on a farm. She always knew she wanted to work in agriculture. In her case however, where she is now is 18,000 kilometres from home. Jess is from Shropshire, western England, near the border with...

PGG Wrightson talent looking to show their prowess at national auction competition Featuring ahead of this year’s NZ Agricultural Show in Christchurch in November is the 11th annual Heartland Bank Young Auctioneers Competition. PGG Wrightson dominated last year to take out the quinella when Manawatu...

Ron Schroeder receives New Zealand Deer Industry Award Ron Schroeder, PGG Wrightson Livestock’s Upper South Island Deer Specialist, was recently awarded the deer industry’s highest honour. Each year the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association presents its New Zealand Deer Industry Award. This year, in...

PGG Wrightson auctioneer helps raise $100,000 plus for Farmstrong PGG Wrightson is proud to be associated with the annual Norwood Charity Golf Tournament in support of Farmstrong, a golf day fund-raiser, plus dinner and auction, which this year raised $106,925 for the rural well-being charity. Kevin...

Chilled export venison schedules up 25 per cent and velvet demand stable Spring venison schedules for chilled exports are 25 per cent above last year, currently up to $8.85 per kilogram. While this does not match lamb and beef values, exporters are optimistic about venison’s outlook. Cooler...

bidr sale showcasing rams with highest level facial eczema tolerance An online sale of elite FE tolerant East Coast rams is scheduled on bidr for 4 November. On behalf of St Leger Superior Genetics up to a dozen top Romney rams are on offer, all having tested to the highest level for facial eczema...

High clearance rates and firm pricing as buyers chase specific characteristics to suit breeding programmes Prices were strong and clearances high at more than 60 yearling bull sales around the country through the six weeks to mid-October. Purchasers have been buying to fulfil the needs of specific...

Lambing percentages good, though warm days late arriving In the South Island the main recent focus for the livestock market has been moving on last year’s lambs, and processing spring cattle sales. On the positive, it has been a good lambing season, featuring strong percentages on most farms and...

Solid schedules sustain positive values for cattle and sheep Wet weather resulting in slower spring grass growth has delayed the normal motivation to re-stock after winter, setting back the flow of cattle through the saleyards. However, demand for good well-bred cattle with weight on has remained...

Currently working out of Alexandra where McKay asks Duffy if he managed to find an inside job amongst the snowfall yesterday - Duffy confirmed and said he had to locate his merino clothing for both days. Fortunately, they had finished the Spring Cattle Sale on Tuesday as the Old Man Range, seen from...

PGW’s eight strategic priorities include ‘Our Differentiated Offering’, which is a competitive advantage for the company. One aspect of PGW’s differentiated offering is the leveraging of its Technical Team, who are dedicated to growing technical knowledge and ability across the company, our clients...

Rowena Duncum from The Country touched base with Steve Wilkinson, the Lower North Island Regional Manager for PGG Wrightson Livestock, based in Wairarapa. With spring finally here, has there been any change in livestock pricing coming through? Steven agrees - the covers are coming off, weather's...

New Zealand’s virtual saleyard now operating regularly in eight North Island saleyards Reflecting the growing appetite for online transactions in many other industries, bidr, New Zealand’s virtual saleyard, continues to make solid progress as farmers increasingly appreciate the convenience of...

Values holding firm, though tallies reduced for cattle and hoggets Winter weather has impacted North Island livestock tallies, with a noticeable reduction of the flow of stock into saleyards. Solid processor schedules continue to underpin the strong market for cattle and hoggets. When hoggets are...

Jamie Mackay from The Country took his monthly survey of the rural livestock market, getting the inside story from Joe Higgins, Mid South Canterbury Livestock Manager for PGG Wrightson. The big topic is rainfall. Has it stopped yet? Joe confirms that it has - a beautiful, clear, frosty day in...