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 7000 bales of South Island wools on offer this week saw a slightly easier market overall with an 82% clearance, reports NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies lifted 0.21% to the downward pressure on local prices.
Dawson reports the northern European summer break and continuing pressure on China's internal economic situation is limiting the market at present as exporters cover for immediate shipment commitments only.
The fine and coarse end of the mid micron wools were firm to 2.5% dearer, with only the 26.5 to 27.5 types 1 to 3.5% cheaper. Fine crossbred full fleece were firm to 3% cheaper with shorter types firm to 2% easier.
Coarse crossbred full fleece and longer shears eased by 1% with the shorter types coming back 2 to 4%. A nominal offering of first lambs were firm to 4% cheaper.
Limited competition was spread mainly between China, Australasia and the Middle East with support from Western Europe, India and the United Kingdom.
The next sale on August 8 comprises about 5400 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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