News

Accurate birth records strengthen bio security while contributing to high value export opportunities for New Zealand farmers. Image supplied by OSPRI, featuring farmer, Christine Angland. Please note that the quality of the image has been enhanced using AI. Strong biosecurity and access to high...

The harvest is in full swing so there's no better time to enter your horticulture photos in the LandMarks Photo Collection! Whether it’s sun-kissed summer fruit, the remarkable symmetry of vineyards, or the orchard’s smallest helpers, this free photography competition is your chance to showcase what...

Finalists Announced for the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy PGG Wrightson is proud to celebrate the announcement of the three finalists for the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy, New Zealand's most prestigious award for Māori agriculture and horticulture. On 18 February, the Hon Tama Potaka (Māori Development Minister)...

A herd of dairy cows is one of the most significant assets within a dairy business. In the current market, strong payout forecasts and renewed sector confidence have created solid demand for quality herds. For farmers considering a sale in the 2026/27 season, conditions are favourable, provided the...

Demand for dairy herds is running high. Results from recent global dairy trade auctions are pushing positivity in the sector. Even at historically elevated levels, forecast returns are holding steady. A new round of dairy conversions currently in process is also set to generate further demand for...

Confidence remains high across the Taranaki livestock sector, with strong returns for dairy beef calves, steady demand for store stock, and positive seasonal conditions underpinning the market. PGG Wrightson Taranaki Area Livestock Manager/Auctioneer, Andrew Gibson, said prices at the February sales...

The early 1900s marked a period of rapid growth for New Zealand’s horticulture industry. A key milestone came in 1901, when the first national conference of fruitgrowers and horticulturists was held in Dunedin. For the first time, delegates from Fruitgrowers’ Associations and Horticultural Societies...

Store lambs, two tooths and ewes all in heavy demand as confidence in sheep industry returns. With encouraging commodity pricing and plenty of feed in the paddock, 2026 is off to a promising start in most regions. Farmers picking up on the positives are driving livestock markets ahead. Strong demand...

More stock, big lines and higher values feature at the on-farm sale of one of the Tararua district’s most admired properties. Big lines of quality livestock met a positive response at the second annual Waewaepa Station On-Farm Sheep and Steer Sale on 13 January. Hardy hill country genetics, proven...

Global dairy trade auctions, dairy conversions and sharemilker appointments drive elevated market. Buyer inquiry for dairy herds has been elevated over the past few weeks. With recent global dairy trade auctions pushing forecast returns higher, buyers outnumber sellers, demand has risen, and herd...

Doing it successfully with a deer career. Having spent most of his life with deer, in November last year Hayden Byars took on a new role as PGG Wrightson deer specialist for Southland. Hayden’s father Peter started farming deer, at the family farm in Merino Downs, Waikaka, Eastern Southland, when...

Dispersal sale of long-established South Otago stud is an opportunity to acquire the best genetics. One of New Zealand’s oldest and most respected Simmental studs is holding a dispersal sale in March. Glenside Simmental, Waitahuna, South Otago, was first established in 1985. Having recently sold...

First time use of New Zealand’s virtual saleyard extends reach for on-farm merino stud sales. A series of recent sales marks the first time bidr has taken a role in selling merino rams. Armidale, Gimmerburn, Maniototo is a 2054-hectare multi-generational property that numbers 3500 merino ewes among...

PGG Wrightson (PGW) is consolidating its North and South Island auctions and establishing a single, national open-cry wool auction in Christchurch in response to industry changes. PGW general manager Rachel Shearer said the decision follows successful trials of a single national auction late last...

Momentum in the rural property market has been building over the past couple of months, and, with autumn around the corner, it’s shaping up as an ideal time for vendors to prepare for sale, says Peter Newbold, General Manager Livestock & Real Estate for PGG Wrightson. Newbold told The Country’s...

From the windswept hills of Hawke’s Bay to the wharves of Ahuriri, our East Coast legacy is built on the bold decisions of rural icons like Frederick Williams and Nathaniel Kettle, who formed Williams & Kettle during one of New Zealand’s toughest economic periods in the 1880s. Amidst challenging...

Strong wool prices have opened 2026 with renewed confidence, and early indicators suggest the momentum is holding. Speaking with Hamish McKay on The Country, Rachel Shearer from PGG Wrightson Wool shared insights from recent auction results, international demand signals, and what this means for...

The Government and industry are backing new training initiatives to improve animal health and welfare outcomes in New Zealand’s shearing sector, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “We’ve worked with industry to establish a $75,000 fund to support targeted training initiatives that...