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 slightly easier New Zealand dollar and increased international demand combined to improve most wool prices this week, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's marketing manager, Paul Steel reports.
Of the 12,100 bales on offer 79% sold.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies dipped 1.2%, helping local price levels.
Steel advises recent lower market levels and slowly reducing stock levels in the manufacturing pipeline have helped stimulate recent buying with China beginning to lift their activity.
Fine mid micron fleece under 28 microns were firm to 3% easier with the coarser end 2 to 4% dearer.
Fine crossbred fleece gained 2 to 3.5% reflecting Chinese interests. Good style coarse crossbred fleece remained firm with average styles firm to 3% dearer.
Coarse shears were generally firm to 1.5% stronger except the 2 to 3 inch wools which lifted 3%.
A nominal offering of first lambs were firm to 1.5% dearer. Oddments came under strong competition lifting 6% for all categories.
Well spread competition with China, India and United Kingdom principals, supported by Western Europe, Australasia and the Middle East.
The next sale on September 6 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.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.