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 9500 bales on offer at this week's North Island sale saw a 93% clearance with a generally firm market, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager John Dawson.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies eased 0.94% compared to the last sale on November 8, helping local prices.
Dawson says the fine crossbred fleece was slightly buyers' favour with longer shears up to 2% easier and shorter types firm.
Coarse full length crossbred fleece and longer shears remained firm with 2 to 4 inch wools firm to 1.5% dearer and 2 to 3 inch up to 2.5% stronger. Crossbred oddments generally remained firm.
There was limited competition with China dominating supported by India, Middle East, Western Europe and the United Kingdom.
The next sale on November 22 comprises about 10,255 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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