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 10,600 bales of South Island wools on offer this week saw a generally solid market and an 82% clearance, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson says.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies strengthened slightly by 0.14%, having no effect on the market.
Dawson says merino fleece prices when compared to last sold on November 8, 18 micron and finer eased 3 to 4% bringing them to the same market level as their Australian counterparts.
Mid Micron Fleece 26 to 28 micron were firm to 1% dearer with 28.5 to 31.5 microns 2 to 5% stronger.
Compared to the last sale on November 15, fine crossbred fleece 32 to 35 micron were firm to 4% dearer. Longer shears were 2 to 4% stronger with shorter types generally firm.
Coarse crossbred fleece 36 micron and coarser were firm to 1% dearer. Longer shears were firm to 3% stronger with 2 to 4 inch firm and shorter types 1 to 2% easier.
Oddments were firm to 3% stronger.
There was competition with China, India and Western Europe principals, supported by United Kingdom, Middle East and Australasia. The next sale on November 29 comprises about 8500 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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