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 first South Island sale for the 2013/14 season saw small movements each way, but an overall firm market with an 89% clearance of the 8100 bales on offer, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's marketing executive, Paul Steel says.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies compared to the last sale on July 11 was practically unchanged, easing by only 0.33%.
Steel advises the mid micron fleece compared to last time sold on June were 27 1 to 3.5% cheaper in line with easing markets elsewhere. Fine crossbred fleece and long shears compared to the sale on July 11 were generally firm.
Shorter shears were firm to 2% dearer.
Coarse crossbred fleece, where comparable were generally firm to buyers favour. Longer coarse shears were up to 2% cheaper with shorter types 1 to 2% dearer.
Long First Lambs were 5 to 8% stronger with shorter types ranging from 1 to 5% dearer. All oddments were 1 to 2% easier.
There was competition with China, Western Europe and the Middle East principal, supported by India, Australasia, United Kingdom and Asia.
The next sale on July 25 comprises about 6800 bales from the North Island and 6300 bales from the South 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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