Nichol is new PGW chair
A day after the ouster of PGG Wrightson’s chair and his deputy, the listed rural trader’s board has appointed John Nichol as the new independent chair.
Stock agents are reporting that it is only recently that herd prices have come back because of Fonterra’s lower forecast payout for the 2015-16 season and following seasons.
A Hauraki Plains agent reports one of the main problems is the limited numbers of genuine herds.
“I recently sold an ordinary herd for $1700/head, but top herds I was selling last year for $2100/2200 are now reaching only $1900/head,” he said.
He believed that representatives of Ngai Tahu have been looking for North Island herds to stock their recent dairy conversions.
PGG Wrightson livestock manager Waikato, Dean Evans, said most herds sold in his area have been priced between $1400-$1900/head. Most stayed in the North Island and 10-12 went to the South Island.
“As always quality rules and the well-presented herds with good records made up to $2150/head.
Swap Agriculture held its annual sale of in-calf heifers and carry-over cows on April 21 at Walton near Matamata, with farm manager, Vaughan Armstrong reporting a satisfactory sale.
“Of course we would have liked more. But with 112 Friesian and Friesian cross in-calf heifers averaging $1700/head and the 92 in-calf carry over cows averaging $1750/head we were happy considering the season.”
Buyers were given free grazing until June 1.
The sale was run by PGG Wrightson with Joe Harris and Mark Begovich Livestock. – Tony Hopkinson
Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.
Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne says their joint venture with Alliance Group will create “a dynamic industry competitor”.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.