Wool pellets to boost gardens
With wool prices steadily declining and shearing costs on the rise, a Waikato couple began looking for a solution for wool from their 80ha farm.
The local market lifted significantly for the 10,400 bales on offer at the South Island sale this week, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson says.
The weakening NZ dollar, particularly against the US dollar which was down 4.97% compared to the last sale on May 9 and the weighted currency indicator down 3.91% was the principal market influence. This was supported by recent strong purchasing interest and a seasonal limited wool supply.
Dawson says a nominal offering of mid micron fleece were firm to 3% dearer.Fine crossbred fleece lifted up to 3.5% with the second shears 5 to 8% stronger. Good colour coarse crossbred fleece lifted 6% with poorer styles 2.5 to 5.5% dearer.
Coarse longer second shears were 4 to 6.5% firmer with shorter types 5 to 9% stronger. First lambs fleece ranged from 3 to 7% dearer. All coarse oddments were 9 to 10% stronger.Strong competition from Western Europe, Australasia and the United Kingdom was supported by China, India and the Middle East.
The next sale on the May 30 comprises 11,300 bales from the North Island.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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