News

Leading European carpet manufacturer Ege has joined PGG Wrightson’s Wool Integrity programme. Based in Denmark, Ege is a global market leader in the printed carpet sector. Palle Petersen, general manager of PGG Wrightson Wool’s in-house export and marketing arm Bloch and Behrens Wool (NZ) Ltd, said...

Blowfly strike is the second most costly parasitic disease of sheep in New Zealand, ranking only behind gastro-intestinal roundworms in economic importance. 1 Research has shown that even relatively small strikes can cause a marked loss of appetite in the struck animal, resulting in weight loss. 2...

PGG Wrightson Wool has achieved certification as a Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) organisation, and has recently exported the first fully certified shipment of scoured New Zealand strong wool to the International market place previously having only exported RWS compliant greasy wool. Using RWS as...

A detailed research programme into new uses for coarse crossbred wool is closing in on some innovative answers that should increase farm gate returns. Wool growers’ historical levies contributed towards funding the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), which is behind the programme. Now...

Most of New Zealand’s organic crossbred woolgrowers have been brought together by PGG Wrightson Wool to supply their product to international markets. Prior to the company and its export arm, Bloch & Behrens, creating this initiative, organic wool achieved no commercial advantage for growers. In...

Over the past four years, PGG Wrightson Wool has forged a relationship between Norwegian textile group Devold and several South Island merino wool growers. In early November, around 30 growers, farming between Marlborough and Central Otago, plus three from Australia, met with the company and several...

As of 1 October, New Zealand is the first country in the world to make mulesing illegal. A new code of animal welfare published by the Ministry of Primary Industries included outlawing the practice for the first time. Mulesing has always been banned as part of PGG Wrightson’s Wool Integrity...

With strong international orders for lamb’s wool, growers interested in signing up forward contracts this season, for delivery in the new year, could be well rewarded. However, with the best premiums offered for finer crossbred lamb’s wool, growers will need to shear lambs early if they are to...

Otago artist Hope Duncan works with wool in her art, which in turn focuses on wool as a fibre, as a material and an industry. She has worked closely with PGG Wrightson Wool South Island sales manager Dave Burridge and general manager Grant Edwards to extend her understanding of wool, completing the...

Crossbred wool growers consigning their clip to PGG Wrightson Wool via the company’s popular Flexi contracts are benefiting financially by as much as $2 per kilogram against spot prices. Under a Flexi contract a grower agrees to supply a minimum of 50 bales per annum over three seasons, or 150 bales...

Listen to the Christmas Wool Report with Grant Edwards and Jamie Mackay, live on The Country radio show.

Catch up on the latest wool report with Grant Edwards and Jamie Mackay.

The Country's Jamie Mackay and our General Manager Peter Newbold talk through their monthly overview of the rural real estate market. Also available is the summer 2018 Issue of Rural Property Pulse. Produced quarterly for nationwide distribution, this publication contains relevant and up-to-date...

Managing Facial Eczema (FE) requires a multipronged approach involving strategies to reduce spore intake and provide zinc as a prophylaxis and therapy. FE is caused by a mycotoxin produced by the fungus pithomyces chartarum growing in pasture dead matter. This fungus multiplies rapidly when...

Sheep and beef farmers are poised to capitalise on excellent pasture production after the moist end to the spring. PGG Wrightson South Island Livestock Manager Shane Gerken says most districts experienced good spring growing conditions, with an extra boost over the past few weeks. “Although NIWA was...

Subdued spring market set for summer revival Recently published Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) statistics confirm what we are seeing in the marketplace: it has been a cautious and subdued spring rural property market. Several factors are contributing, with dairy sector uncertainty the...

With the holiday season just around the corner it's time to take a look at what's been happening around the country. Sheep & Beef Steady rain throughout most parts of the South Island, has been welcome in Canterbury but saturated ground conditions in Otago and Southland has seen widespread flooding...

PGG Wrightson Real Estate's GM talked to The Country's Jamie Mackay on several topics including the dairy prices the south and the subdued spring market, set for summer revival. Also available is the summer 2018 Issue of Rural Property Pulse. Produced quarterly for nationwide distribution, this...