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 WOOL SALE held in the South Island today (Thursday) comprised 10,334 bales of which 7, 587 reached market reserves or above, New Zealand Wool Services International Limited's general manager, John Dawson reports.
The weighted indicator for the main currencies was up 2.09% and 73.5% of the offering sold.
Increased demand coupled with continued grower resistance to further declining prices saw price levels resist the strong New Zealand dollar.
Compared to the North Island sale on May 31, 2012 Coarse Crossbred Fleece and Early Shorn types 3 to 5 inch and longer were 5% dearer. Coarse Crossbred Second Shears 2 to 4 inch and 3 to 4 inch were 4 % dearer. First Lambs were 1% dearer. Crossbred Oddments were 2% dearer.
A good spread of buyers was active including China, India, Western Europe and Australasia with support from United Kingdom and Middle East.
Compared to the last South Island sale on the May 24 prices were generally firm to buyers favour.
The next sale on June 14, 2012 comprises approximately 12,500 bales of North Island wool.
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.