News

Grower advice: Take care to avoid being penalised for over-weight bales. For safety and efficiency, industry standards require that over-weight bales must be reduced. Excess wool will be re-packed into lighter-weight bales within the same line. In the case of several over-weight bales within a...

Grower warning: Do not consign wool in ‘Econopack’ labelled bales. Over the past two years, a line of new wool packs sold to farmers across the country proved unfit for purpose. Although these packs have been banned within the supply chain, they are again appearing in wool stores, likely out of...

Fitness and the great outdoors combine Dave Burridge's passion for adventure racing. During working hours, Dave Burridge is South Island Auction Manager for PGG Wrightson Wool, overseeing all the details for every fortnightly wool auction held in Christchurch. Outside the auction room, Dave is a...

Considering covid wiped out the majority of this season’s overall shearing competitions, to complete the National Shearing Circuit, over five qualifying rounds and a final was exceptional. Starting in early October in Alexandra, the multi-breed event had competitors on fine wool at the New Zealand...

Steve Ashman and Greer Reeves farm in the Pehiri district on a 376 hectare Gisborne hill country block. They bought the farm from Steve's parents in 2017, saving for it by wool handling, shepherding in Tolaga Bay, mustering and shearing, including in Scotland, Sardinia, and Sicily, the heart of...

PGG Wrightson plays a vital role in a partnership set to add $9 million per annum to wool growers' profitability. Endeavouring to source the best wool to manufacture the highest quality garments, Devold of Norway is offering New Zealand growers a fixed premium price per kilogram, with PGG Wrightson...

Merchiston Angus offering 170 mixed age cattle with genetics established over 66 years A major dispersal sale at Merchiston Angus, north east of Marton, on 28 March will offer approximately 170 mixed age cattle, comprising the entire Merchiston-based cow herd. Merchiston was founded in 1955 on a...

PGG Wrightson Wool representative leads successful fund-raiser Otago based PGG Wrightson Wool representative Jared Manihera brought off an enormous mission last month, organising a 24-hour shearathon that raised over $200,000, for the Southland Charity Hospital. Four shearers, Eru Weeds, Cole Wells...

Sometimes it’s more than buying or selling livestock PGG Wrightson National Dairy Genetics Co-Ordinator Andrew Reyland has always been an animal person. As a third-generation dairy farmer, which he did before shifting to a livestock role, he was in his natural element. Andrew says his father, Basil...

Scheme has put 1.8 million lambs and 255,000 cattle onto New Zealand farms since 2016 Peter Dodd farms sheep and trading cattle at Tapui, 30 kilometres west of Oamaru. He is one of many farmers throughout the country who take advantage of Go-Stock, PGG Wrightson’s answer for on-farm cash flow. Go...

Plenty of feed and favourable outlook keeping livestock market positive Excellent feed conditions and strong demand for livestock characterises the early autumn in most South Island farm districts. Ewe fairs, store lambs and on-farm clearing sales have dominated the calendar recently. Through all...

Tallies and values solid in early trade at annual fairs When this year’s beef weaner fair season commenced in early March the high number of older cattle still on hand caused concern that demand may not be at usual levels. However, the tallies coming forward and the values have been solid. In the...

Good growing conditions in most districts keeps demand for stock positive Comparing year on year, in early 2022 sheep and cattle volumes have traded back slightly, partly due to land use change, although reduced meat processor staffing has created a sizeable backlog resulting in less appetite and...

Schedule at $8, plus Asian demand for velvet fuels confidence for upcoming sales Venison is good news for deer farmers this year with the schedule sitting around $8 per kilogram. Following better than expected demand during the chilled venison season confidence is returning to the sector, demand is...

Excellent payout and future prospects giving farmers the confidence to invest in stock This season’s market for dairy herds is particularly buoyant. Enquiry is as strong as it has been in a few years. As farmers sit on one of the highest ever payouts, while also anticipating equivalent prosperity...

Listen Now. Jamie Mackay from The Country caught up with the other Jamie – Jamie Cunningham, National Dairy Specialist at PGG Wrightson – live from the farming capital of New Zealand – Feilding. First topic for discussion was how the red-light system is affecting the Friday sale at the Feilding sale...

A rare opportunity to buy foundation females, a stock family that goes back 70 years. Merchiston Angus is a stud business north east of Marton. It was established in 1955 on a property held in the same family through four generations. In addition to the Angus stud, Merchiston has sheep and...

Woolshed workers in central Otago, including four main shearers, Eru, Brayden, Cole, and David, and many other volunteers, led by Jared, set out to shear 9,500 sheep in 24hrs to raise money for the Southland Charity Hospital. Not only did they exceed their shear target, but these extraordinary...