News

Good year to sell bulls, even better for buyers This year’s two year old bull sales season started in May Overall it has been a good year to sell bulls, though an even better season for buyers. PGG Wrightson Livestock conducted 110 bull sales in 2022, and the quality of this year’s offering...

Vendors and purchasers urged to plan now, or miss out later Early July signals the first in-milk cows coming to the market. Based on projections for the dairy payout, demand for quality cows is trending to the positive. However, farmers looking to increase herd size in the spring need to realise...

Rearers need on-sell commitment now on probable margins before taking calves to carry through to 100 kilograms Northern feeder calf sales started relatively well in early July, and will progress through the rest of the country to reach Southland by mid-August. While the early well-bred calves will...

Recently we were on-farm at Orari Gorge Station in the beautiful province of Geraldine to film the 58 th annual Orari Gorge Herefords sale. Orari Gorge Station is a 4000-hectare farm in the South Canterbury foothills. Managed by fifth-generation owner Robert Peacock, in June Orari Gorge Station ran...

The Ōkārito Lagoon in South Westland is New Zealand's largest unmodified wetland, covering an area of approximately 3,240ha. Ōkārito is the only place in the country where the white heron/kōtuku breed and it is home to the Australasian bittern/Matuku-hūrepo. The area is also one of the biggest...

PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit winner says, "Like any sport, what you put in is what you get out." Often described as a 'Marathon event', it's no surprise that Nathan Stratford's adamant gym training helped in his recent success at the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit...

Contribution from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Until recently, Aotearoa New Zealand was one of the few countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) which did not have a consistent regulatory dam safety framework. In May 2022, the Ministry of...

Hot topic is the new Free Trade Agreement with the EU. Big question is: what's in it for New Zealand wool growers? Not a lot according to Grant. Between 25 and 30 percent of New Zealand's wool exports go to the EU - mostly Italy, Germany and Lithuania - with no tariffs currently in place on greasy...

Callum Stewart is National Genetics Manager for PGG Wrightson and Jamie Mackay caught up with him in Feilding on Friday - sale day - a big day for the local community. Callum reckons sale day brings a lot of money into the township, with farmers supporting local and having a big spend-up!! The...

While the war in Ukraine has potential to impact the market, the bigger issue is lock-downs in China. Grant is particularly concerned about the lock-down of Shanghai, arguably the major port in the world. Stopping the movement of goods through China has a significant effect as a lot of New Zealand...

The finalists in the 2022 Ahuwhenua Trophy competition for the top Māori sheep and beef farm have been announced.

From mid-April, the market for crossbred wools increased appreciably in both the North and South Islands. Foreign exchange has been the main factor driving this, with the New Zealand dollar at one point dropping below US$0.63. Demand for better quality wools, with good colour and sound preparation...

An interactive educational opportunity for students might be the way to help New Zealand with its growing wool crisis. The Wool In Schools programme works with primary, intermediate, and secondary schools. Schools can register for The Wool Shed, filled with interactive tools to educate kids on wool...

Bale contamination is an ongoing issue that can cause significant downstream processing problems. We wish to provide growers, shearing contractors, and wool handlers with a timely reminder to be vigilant in the woolshed. The photo attached to this article has been supplied by WoolWorks New Zealand...

As many wool growers should now be fully aware, the wool sector is a member of the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP), which has recently refreshed its logo. For PGG Wrightson to market your wool as NZFAP assured, it is essential for growers to know their Assurance Code (e.g. 1000XYZ) /...

PGG Wrightson Wool Otago representative Graeme Bell recently attended the New Zealand Wool Classers Association’s AGM in Mosgiel, which doubled as a Classer Professional Development Day. Included in the association’s annual Classer Awards, PGG Wrightson Wool is the sponsor of the Owner Classer...

Like all farmers, wool growers will always look at options to increase productivity through innovation. With the wool market in a low return phase of its cycle, for some, that possible innovation includes saving money on crutching, dagging and shearing by shifting towards self-shedding breeds...

Tara Marshall has been in wool all her life, and then some. She grew up on her grandfather’s 1000 hectare farm in Ohura, north of Taumarunui. Tara started working in shearing gangs at the age of 17, which she did for a couple of years before heading to Hamilton and a year in the SkyCity cashier...