News

In the first few months of his new career, one of our Canterbury based trainees, originally from the Central North Island, shares his impressions of the role. Meeting new people, going new places, and learning new ideas sums up Lachie Crafar’s experience of life as a livestock representative. Raised...

“What do I need to pay for a big Holstein dairy cow in Taranaki at the moment?” That’s the burning question Jamie Mackay put to PGG Wrightson’s Taranaki livestock manager, Andrew Gibson, on The Country today. Gibson’s the right man to ask, as he was gearing up for the Makuri Holstein Dispersal on...

Confident local farmers show strong support as enthusiasm for beef remains high, while bidr generates plenty of interest from further afield. A pen of Simmental weaners, offered by Barry Gledhill of Linton, Manawatu, and averaging 385.7 kilograms, sold at the first 2025 Feilding Weaner Steer and...

Store lambs and weaner sales going well as weather, feed and schedules keep farmer optimism high. Agreeable climatic conditions, a promising feed outlook in most regions, and stable schedules are all encouraging buyer confidence, making for positive early autumn livestock markets. In the North...

Premium dairy genetics on offer, developed over many decades, as high performing cows and heifers come to market. Several clearing sales, featuring dairy herds with exceptional genetics, are on the calendar for April and May, with Taranaki farms to the fore. These sales offer opportunities to secure...

Making a switch and noticing the difference between farming and livestock trading, where making the farmer happy is the number one priority. Stephen Wheeler began as a PGG Wrightson sheep, beef and dairy livestock representative in Taumarunui in December 2023. “It’s a relationship business. Although...

Wide variety of farm equipment, valued at $2 million, from respected Waikato agricultural contractor, selling via bidr auction. On the 10th of April, a large online sale of agricultural plant and machinery is set to attract purchasers from throughout the country. Trucks, tractors, trailers, drills...

An innately human characteristic, passion is something that can’t be taught. And it just so happens that for Tara Marshall, her passion is wool, and the industry that surrounds it. Growing up on her grandfather’s 1000 hectare farm north of Taumarunui, there may be an element of not having any choice...

While there have been plenty of solid results for bidr in the saleyards, the real-time, live auction online platform hadn’t ever been used for an on-farm, solely ewe sale. But when Mike Gill, a PGG Wrightson sheep and beef rep in Lumsden, spoke to multiple people who wanted sheep, and who couldn’t...

March is all about weaner calves in the Wairarapa, with two big fairs at the Masterton Saleyards on the 12th and the 25th of this month. PGG Wrightson livestock agent, and Karaoke fan, Andrew “Elvis” Jennings, was at this week’s sale. He told The Country’s Jamie Mackay that the event had an...

A herd of dairy cows is a significant asset: one of the biggest and most important that most farmers will hold. In the current market, on the back of a rising forecast payout, dairy herds are in high demand. Anyone considering selling a herd this season can therefore expect to do well financially...

Consistency, superior growth and productivity should meet strong buyer demand for station bred cattle known for how well they shift. With the North Island weaner sales season almost upon us, Wairarapa has two big weaner fairs that will attract farmers from throughout the region and beyond, at the...

Demand exceeds supply across most livestock classes as farmers are prepared to pay well to take benefit from propitious feed and export conditions. While much of the North Island needs rain, particularly Taranaki and Waikato, the livestock market throughout the country remains strong, with the...

Excellent farming season makes for a memorable edition of a unique event on the Mackenzie District’s farming calendar. One of the biggest events in the Mackenzie District’s farming calendar, this year was the 31st edition of the Rollesby Valley Lamb Sale. PGG Wrightson Livestock Mid-South Canterbury...

A PGG Wrightson Livestock representative with a unique backstory, and a separate thriving business in Japan, which has rebounded from Covid. Most new recruits to PGG Wrightson Livestock come in with an agriculture background. Although Ross MacDonald is no exception, his particular agriculture...

Third generation Maniatoto farm offers heritage flock in first ever fully online sale of merino ewes and lambs. Fine wool growers had a unique opportunity to augment their flocks as some highly regarded stock was offered in the first ever bidr sale of merino ewes and lambs. After almost a century in...

A recent announcement from Westpac is good news for farmers, says PGG Wrightson’s National Dairy Specialist, Jamie Cunninghame. The bank upped its farmgate milk price forecast by 30c to $10.30/kg for the current season, and its opening forecast for the 2025/26 season is $10/kg. Cunninghame said it...

Mild, moist weather produces plenty of pasture, leaving farmers short of stock to take advantage. Evident in the past few weeks: positivity is returning for sheep and beef farmers throughout the country. An unseasonably mild and moist Christmas and New Year resulted in abundant pasture, sending many...