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.
A SLIGHTLY easier New Zealand dollar, limited wool supply and steady shipping demand combined to lift prices across the board at the South Island sale, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.
Recent poor weather has restricted shearing, creating a seasonal shortfall with the next South Island sale on June 19 now cancelled.
Of the 6,640 bales on offer 91% sold with some growers holding out for higher price levels.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies compared to the last sale on May 29 was down 0.7%.
Dawson advises that:
Fine Crossbred Fleece and Shears were 3 to 5% dearer. Coarse Crossbred Fleece and shears were generally 3 to 4.5% dearer with shorter shears up to 6% stronger.
Lambs Fleece were 2 to 4% dearer. Good style short oddments were up 3 to 5% with poor styles 6 to 9% stronger.
There was good competition with China, India, Western Europe and Australasia principals, supported by United Kingdom and the Middle East.
The next sale on June 12 comprises about 9,300 bales from the North Island, down 20% on anticipated rostered volumes.
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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