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 7,900 bales of North Island wool on offer this week saw a 68.7% clearance with a generally firm to dearer trend, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies eased 1.93% compared to the last sale on May 10.
Dawson advises a nominal offering of fine crossbred fleece was well supported, lifting by 3 to 3.5%. Coarse second shears remained firm. Lambs Fleece 2/4 inches and longer were firm to 1% stronger with the shorter types firm to 1.5% easier.
All oddments generally remained firm however direct comparison between the North and South Island types this season is difficult to achieve.
Limited competition with China dominating, supported by Western Europe, Middle East and India.
Next sale on May 24 comprises a reduced quantity of approximately 7,280 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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