PGG Wrightson Revenue Tops $1.1b as Profit Jumps 46%
After delivering a strong financial year, rural trader PGG Wrightson says the coming months will depend on customer confidence and weather.
Waikato animal nutrition specialist Nadine Huitema was one of two Kiwi representatives at the Woolworths Agricultural Business Scholarship Programme in Sydney last week.
Huitema, 27, advises on livestock for PGG Wrightson.
The scholarship, run by Countdown’s parent company Woolworths, gives practical and academic perspectives on the business of agriculture from key industry leaders. The industry supported course gives insights into all aspects of the food chain.
The other Kiwi participant was sheep farmer Grant McNaughton.
Huitema and McNaughton were given the chance to speak and interact with experienced industry representatives.
Huitema is an animal nutrition technical specialist - advising on dairy cows, dairy goats, beef and lamb for PGG Wrightson. Her particular interest is in pasture, crops and other types of feeds.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.