News

We all know that weeds in pastures are undesirable, but a recent study sponsored by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment 1 has reported that we have likely been underestimating their full cost to New Zealand agriculture. The study estimated that the total cost for just 10 common...

The business relationship between Nelson contractors Kevin and Andrew Fry (K & A Fry Contracting) and PGG Wrightson has grown so strong over the last five years, that both parties now promote and refer one another to new farmers in the district. Established in 2002, K & A Fry Contracting are the...

When soil sampling, we usually collect the sample by block or by paddock. This is purely driven by ease of sampling logistics, such as crop area or fencing around a paddock, rather than yield variability and soil type, which in fact have the biggest influence on available plant nutrient. Zonal soil...

When soil moisture is discussed, certain terms are used to describe its status, but what exactly do they mean? Water moves through soil and is held in pores and on soil surfaces. The relative size and proportion of the pores in the soil determine the vital soil physical characteristics, such as...

Peter Moore, GM of Livestock, joins Mark Leishman to look at the issues facing farmers in lockdown and to discuss BIDR, the on-line selling platform for livestock transactions.

Peter Moore joins Mark Leishman on Country TV for the March Livestock Roundup.

The Country's Jamie Mackay is joined by PGG Wrightson's GM for Rural Real Estate Peter Newbold to take a look at the rural property market this month in light of Covid-19. "It is fair to say nothing has really changed in the last few weeks" said Newbold. The interest continued to be around sheep and...

National Livestock Update Matt Macfie - National Livestock Sales Manager Despite the ongoing drought and uncertainty around coronavirus, autumn livestock markets are generally positive. PGG Wrightson Livestock national sales manager Matt Macfie says plenty of sales are providing encouraging signs...

Despite the ongoing drought and uncertainty around coronavirus, autumn livestock markets are generally positive. PGG Wrightson Livestock national sales manager Matt Macfie says plenty of sales are providing encouraging signs for farmers. “Although tallies going through the sales are back, demand...

The Country's Jamie Mackay is joined by PGG Wrightson's GM for Livestock, Peter Moore, to chat about the price of livestock. Stock prices have continued to drop since Christmas, and have only recently begun to settle. Moore notes that March is traditionally a big month, particularly for beef weaners...

Bruce Robinson owns a 1250 hectare property in the Waikaretu Valley half way between Port Waikato and Raglan, farmed by his son Pip. Kokonga carries 3000 Romney ewes complemented by their Hereford stud, so organising a lambswool forward contract this year has been a big benefit. “It has been...

Following a successful marketing trip to Europe, PGG Wrightson’s international sales and marketing business Bloch & Behrens has successfully concluded supply contracts for the 2020/21 season. Prices are substantially better than current auction levels. These contracts are available to any New...

Due to their size large commodity traders have little time for smaller operators. However, Bloch & Behrens takes great pride in providing smaller companies with products and service. One such is a business now run by the fifth generation of the Henrichsen family. Henrichsen was founded in 1885, and...

For a small country Lithuania features prominently in New Zealand’s wool export statistics. Two factories in a field outside Raseiniai, a small town in the country’s south west, account for much of the New Zealand wool consigned to Lithuania. Each factory is Danish owned, by Ege Carpets and Danspin...

Long-term PGG Wrightson Wool suppliers Brian and Barbara Tiffen of Stoneleigh near Fairlie have made major improvements in recent seasons through their affiliation to the company, whose wool reps assist to add value without adding cost to their business. Ange Armstrong, PGG Wrightson Wool rep for...

Born and raised in Alexandra, Graeme Bell has worked in the wool industry since December 1968, attending Lincoln College’s wool course in 1970, which started a wool classing career that is still going strong. For the past eight years he has been PGG Wrightson Wool’s Central Otago rep. He reckons its...

Richard Brook, managing director of high end interior textile fabric maker Wooltex UK was recently in New Zealand to meet growers and learn more about our wool. Sourcing Wool Integrity compliant wool through PGG Wrightson’s international sales and marketing business Bloch & Behrens, Wooltex puts New...

Back in 1999 Paul Terry, PGG Wrightson Wool rep in the King Country, had a problem with a 400 litre water tank. He used a skivvy made from synthetic textiles to plug a hole in the tank’s drain, therefore retiring the tank. This year Paul’s neighbour needed extra water so Paul decided to start using...