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.
Apart from a small selection of mid micron wools, all other types at the South Island sale were between 1 and 4% dearer, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson, says.
Of the 6035 bales on offer, 90% sold. The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was down 2.36% adding strength to local prices.
Dawson advises mid micron fleece were 2.5 to 3.5% cheaper. Fine crossbred fleece were up to 1.5% firmer with shorter types 2 to 4% dearer. Coarse crossbred full fleece were 2 to 3% stronger with shears firm to 2.5% dearer.
Long oddments were 3% stronger with shorter types up to 1.5% firmer.
There was limited competition with China, Australasia and United Kingdom most active, supported by Middle East and India. The next sale on August 29 comprises about 7600 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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