News

Two senior executives from Devold of Norway were in New Zealand recently, alongside Craig Smith GM Devold NZ, to meet the growers who supply merino wool for the manufacture of their prestigious natural clothing range. Devold owner and CEO Knut Flaak and the manager of the company’s Lithuania mill...

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...

An upgrade and rebuild of the Number One core machine in the PGG Wrightson Christchurch wool store is complete, with the next stage of the capital programme set to roll out in the Mosgiel store shortly. This nationwide upgrade will improve efficiency and reliability while incorporating health and...

Testing the tenacity, skill and versatility of New Zealand’s top shearing talent, the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit 2022/23 has started. Rounds one and two, in Alexandra and Waimate respectively, were completed in October, round three is hosted by the NZ Agricultural Show in...

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...

Both agreed it's been a busy month with wet weather on top of lambing and calving. The first topic on the table is the continued interest in sheep and beef properties. Peter says the market remains strong with interest from all sectors. Forestry is still underpinning it all but Peter senses that...

Gavin Mutch, of Dannevirke, won the open shearing finals at the Waimate Shears New Zealand Spring Shearing Competition. Photo / Aiman Amerul Maner , Stuff. The weekend’s 2022 Waimate Spring Shears competition was well attended by spectators, with people also watching a live stream of the event from...

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...

Jamie starts the conversation off by talking about the shearing months coming up through October, November and December and mentions that Grant is down in Wanaka ahead of the NZ Merino Shears event happening in Alexandra which Grant will pop across to and see how it's going. Jamie and Grant discuss...